Biodiesel production from non-edible forage turnip oil by extruded catalyst

Oil from forage turnip (Raphanus sativus L) was investigated as a potential non-edible feedstock for ethanolic biodiesel production via transesterification using extrudate pellets of K2CO3/Sepiolite. The mechanical, structural and textural properties of the catalyst were measured using dynamometry, TGA, B.E.T and CO2-TPD. Catalytic performance during biodiesel synthesis in a volumetric glass reactor was evaluated after 2 and 4 h, for different catalyst mass (2, 3 and 5 wt%), oil/ethanol molar ratios (1:6, 1:9 and 1:12) and reaction temperatures (50 and 70 degrees C). A 99.9% biodiesel yield was obtained after 4 h at 70 degrees C, with a 1:12 oil/ethanol molar ratio and 2 wt% catalyst. Thus, the use of forage turnip oil for ethanolic biodiesel production using a heterogeneous catalyst (instead of the conventional homogeneous route) is viable.