Catalytic Efficacy, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies of Biodiesel Synthesis Using Musa AAA Plant Waste-Based Renewable Catalyst

Abstract

The study focuses on the preparation of an inexpensive, ecocompatible, and effective catalyst from the Bharatmoni (Musa AAA) plant for biodiesel synthesis using Jatropha curcas oil. The burnt ashes obtained from the Bharatmoni fruit peel, stem, and rhizome were calcined at 550°C for 2 h and characterized by analytical techniques. Utilization of CBS-550 catalyst achieved a higher yield of biodiesel (96.97%) within 12 min compared to CBP-550 (96.89% in 16 min) and CBR-550 (96.53% in 18 min) catalysts under optimum reaction parameters of 5 wt% of catalyst and 9 : 1 MTOMR at 65°C. This study described that catalyst having a higher concentration of potassium in its oxide and carbonate form has higher catalytic activity. The surface morphology of the prepared catalysts revealed mesoporous in nature. The kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the reactions catalyzed by the present catalysts follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic model exhibiting a nonspontaneous and endothermic process. The reaction catalyzed by the CBS-550 catalyst revealed the lowest $E_{\text{a}}$ of 44.36 kJ mol-1 and is known to be the superior catalyst among the derived catalysts of this study.