Utilization of Karanja Seed Shells as a Sustainable Heterogeneous Catalyst for Biodiesel Production

Development of inexpensive catalysts for biodiesel production has long been favored by researchers. In the present study, the ash from burned discarded Karanja seed shells (KSS) has been found to be one of the most economically and environmentally sustainable materials as a heterogeneous base catalysts for biodiesel production. The catalytic activity of Karanja seed shells ash as a heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production was studied using soybean oil methanolysis. Various methods characterized catalysts, such as XRD, WD-XRF, SEM–EDX, FT-IR, BET, and TGA. Soybean oil biodiesel was converted under the following experimental conditions, as determined by 1H NMR, FT-IR, and GC–MS: a catalyst dose of 2 wt%, methanol to oil molar ratio of 10:1, a reaction temperature of 65 °C, a reaction time of 60 min. The reuse of a catalyst was also evaluated, keeping a high biodiesel yield for up to four cycles.