Sustainable route for S. Oleosa biodiesel production using response surface methodology

Environmental degradation, stringent emission norms, and dependence of fuel import are the major challenges to automobile engine nowadays. Biodiesel from nonedible oils is a better alternate for diesel engines through equivalent energy content, nontoxicity, and bio-degradability, sulfur free, and lubricated nature. However cost of feed stock, quality parameters of fuel and cost of production are the main barriers to restrict its demand as compared to petroleum diesel fuel. So research is continued to address these hurdles. Schleichera Oleosa seed oil is nonedible, low cost, and extensive available feed stock for biodiesel production. In this work quality parameters (density, viscosity, calorific value, flash point, and cold filter plugging point) along with production yield were optimized through response surface methodology. Principal operating condition for S. Oleosa biodiesel production are molar ratio 9:1, 1% (w/w) KOH catalyst concentration with reaction temperature 61 degrees C for 117 minutes reaction time. Production yield of S. Oleosa biodiesel 98.72% along with fuel characteristics are density (0.876 g/cc), kinematic viscosity (5.2 mm(2)/s), calorific value (39.58 MJ/kg), flash point (139.4 degrees C), and cold filter plugging point (-2 degrees C). Optimized results were confirmed with experiment having maximum 7% errors. All properties are compared with petro-diesel and biodiesel standard ASTM6751 and found satisfactory. RSM provides a sustainable model for S. Oleosa biodiesel production and it is possible and renewable substitute fuel for diesel engines.