Use of biochar as a catalyst for biodiesel production

초록

The economic viability of biodiesel (BD) production is highly dependent on conversion techniques using inexpensiveoil feedstocks. In this study, BD was synthesised by the thermally induced (non-catalytic) transesterificationof oil extracted from camellia seed (42.23 wt% lipid content). The BD yield from the non-catalytictransesterification of camellia oil was higher than that from the alkali-catalysed process. The BD yield from thealkali-catalysed transesterification of camellia oil for 60 min was 84.1 wt%, whereas that from the non-catalyticprocess for ≤ 1 min at 360˚C was 93.5 wt%. To realise a virtuous circle in the production of BD, this study soughta strategic way to valorise oil-extracted biomass waste (lignocellulose-based). Specifically, this study sought amethod for valorising biochar as an effective catalyst, hypothesizing that earth alkaline metals finely dispersedwithin the porous structure of biochar would effectively enhance catalytic capability. The BD yield in thepresence of camellia biochar was 92.4 wt% (saturated at ≥ 240˚C). Thus, the reaction kinetics for the transesterificationof camellia oil over camellia biochar was catalytically accelerated. Such efforts provide opportunitiesto enhance economic viability and realise the concept of a sustainable cycle in BD production.

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