Sustainable Biodiesel Production Through The Interesterification Of Waste Cooking Oil Using Catalyst Derived From Eggshells and Mine Tailings
Sustainability and Renewable Energy- Grade:
- 11
- Teacher:
- Becky Grant
The heavy reliance on fossil fuels to meet rising global energy demands is exacerbating global warming. To mitigate these effects, investing in research of sustainable alternatives like biodiesel is essential. This experiment explored the utilization and potential of mine tailing (mine waste) impregnated eggshells as a catalyst in the interesterification of waste cooking oil. The catalyst was synthesized through impregnation and calcination methods. The mine tailing impregnated eggshell catalyst (MTIEC) was characterized using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) to identify the morphology and element composition, respectively. The experimental design framework was architected after the Taguchi Design Model to optimize biodiesel synthesis trials by systematically adjusting the methyl acetate to oil ratio (MA: Oil), catalyst loading (wt%), reaction time (min), and calcination temperature combinations. A maximum biodiesel yield of 145% was achieved at a 20:1 MA: Oil ratio, 1% catalyst loading, 30 min reaction time, and a calcination temperature of 800˚C, maintaining a constant reaction temperature of 40˚ C. The findings exemplify the potential of using a waste-derived catalyst in the production of biodiesel, while also highlighting the importance of calcination temperatures to optimize catalyst effectiveness.
Overall, the study contributes valuable knowledge toward environmentally friendly biodiesel synthesis methods, demonstrating effective waste valorization and process optimization. Great job, Guys on presenting a comprehensive and impactful project!
Congratulations on mastering all the complex equipment and reactions! I encourage you to use the knowledge you’ve gained to continue advancing science. Great work!