Utilization of Biowaste-derived Catalyst for Biodiesel Production: Process Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology and Particle Swarm Optimization Method

In this experimental and optimization study, banana (Musa acuminata) flower petals ash has been considered as an effective catalyst in the room temperature (28 °C) assisted transesterification to produce biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO). The transformation of Musa acuminata flower petals to ash catalyst has been performed by simple conventional open-air burning process. Three important parameters (catalyst concentration, methanol/oil (M/O) molar ratio and time) that play significant role in conversion of WCO to waste cooking methyl ester (WCME) were investigated. In order to maximize the conversion rate these key transesterification parameters were optimized using central composite rotatable design (CCRD) of response surface methodology (RSM). A metaheuristic algorithm popularly known as Particle swarm algorithm (PSO) has been used to observe a clear picture of the global optimum points scattered around the search domain. PSO has also been used to validate the results obtained from CCRD. The chemical composition and morphology of ash catalyst has been investigated using several analytical techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Hammett Indicator method. It was observed that the catalyst remained active till 4^th reaction cycle. The catalyst’s reusability, renewability and robust activity in the reaction makes it efficient, economic, green and industrially applicable.