BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM PALM KERNEL OIL USING BENTONITE CLAY-SUPPORTED FE-CO NANOCATALYST

F. A. Aderibigbe; T. L. Adewoye; S. I. Mustapha; A. I. Mohammed; M. K. Amosa; H. B. Saka; R. A. Muhammed-Nuhu; A. I. Adejumo; R. U. Owolabi

F. A. Aderibigbe Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
T. L. Adewoye Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
S. I. Mustapha Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
A. I. Mohammed Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
M. K. Amosa Waste Management Unit, HSE Division, Department of Petroleum Resources, 7, Sylvester Ugoh Crescent, Jabi, Abuja-FCT, Nigeria
H. B. Saka Quality Control Department, Segmax Oil Nigeria Limited, Kere-Aje, Ogbondoroko, Kwara State, Nigeria
R. A. Muhammed-Nuhu Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
A. I. Adejumo Department of Chemical Engineering, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
R. U. Owolabi Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos Nigeria

Keywords: Box Behnken design, Biodiesel, Heterogeneous catalysis, Trans-esterification, Pindiga bentonite

Abstract

This study is focused on the development of a heterogeneous Fe-Co bimetallic nanoparticle on Pindiga bentonite clay support to be used in the production of biodiesel. The local clay was beneficiated and used in the preparation of catalyst by wet impregnation method. The X-ray Fluorescence analysis (XRF) of the bentonite clay showed the presence of several metals and metallic oxides with good catalytic effect. Characterization of the prepared catalyst using Fourier Transform Infared Ray (FTIR), Energy Dispersive Spectrometer, (EDS) X-Ray Dispersion (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed the functional groups, elemental compositions, crystallinity, and morphology of the catalyst respectively. The catalyst was evaluated in biodiesel production using Box-Behnken optimization by varying the methanol: oil mole ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time, and catalyst concentration. An optimum yield of biodiesel (93.8 %) was obtained at process condition of 15:1 methanol: oil mole ratio, 55 °C reaction temperature, 1 h, reaction time, and 15 % (w/w) catalyst concentration. Physicochemical properties of the biodiesel produced using the developed Fe-Co/ bentonite nanocatalyst showed that the biodiesel is of good quality. This was further confirmed by the FAMEs profile. Therefore, the Fe-Co/bentonite nanocatalyst showed potential application as heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the trans-esterification of vegetable oil to biodiesel, an alternative and sustainable replacement for conventional petroleum diesel.