Transesterification of peanut and rapeseed oils using waste of animal bone as cost effective catalyst

Abstract

Heterogeneous catalysts were developed from goat animal bones for biodiesel production via transesterification process. Desirable feedstock like peanut and rapeseed oils were chosen as raw material for the transesterification process. The bone catalysts calcined at 900 °C shows low crystallite size (41.47434 nm) and higher surface area (90.6523 m²/g) compared to catalysts calcined at other temperatures. The maximum biodiesel yield of 94 % for peanut oil and 96 % for rapeseed oil were obtained at 20:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, addition of 18 wt% of bone catalyst (calcined at 900 °C, 2 h), 60 °C reaction temperature and reaction time of 4 h. The fuel properties of biodiesel produced were compared with ASTM standards for biodiesel. Reusability of the catalyst was also tested.