Pilot-scale optimization of enhanced biodiesel production from high FFA Podocarpus falcatus oil via simultaneous esterification and transesterification assisted by zirconia-supported ZSM-5

In this work, the catalytic activity of a zirconia nanocatalyst supported on the ZSM-5 zeolite (ZSM-5@ZrO2), which was produced and then thermally treated at three different temperatures (300, 500, and 700 degrees C) was examined. The ZSM-5@ZrO2 catalyst was investigated using TGA/DTA, EDX, FT-IR, MAS NMR, XRD, BET, SEM, and XPS techniques to assess Its textural characteristics, surface shape, crystallographic structure, surface functional groups, elementary composition, and thermal stability. The alcohol/PFO molar ratio, catalyst load, temperature, and reaction time were all optimized for biodiesel production using a central composite design approach. Due to its high activity for the conversion of Podocarpus falcatus oil (PFO), the tetragonal ZSM5@ZrO2-500 compound calcined at 500 degrees C was chosen as a representative catalyst. Under optimal conditions, with a methanol/PFO ratio of 18.67%, a catalytic load of 1.73%, a reaction temperature of 214.8 degrees C and a response time of 4.48 h resulted in a maximum biodiesel efficiency of 91.88 +/- 0.02 %. FT-IR NMR, and GC-MS analyses revealed that the biodiesel produced was rich in methyl esters. Additionally, ASTM D6751 standards are met by its physicochemical qualities. Additionally, the ZSM-5@ZrO2-500 catalyst was employed five times a row after regeneration.