Biodiesel production using areca nut (Areca catechu L.) leaf ash-K2CO3 catalyst via transesterification from an oil blend of three different feedstocks

The current study aims to develop a heterogeneous base catalyst from areca nut ( Areca catechu L.) leaf ash incorporated with K 2 CO 3 . The composite heterogeneous catalyst was used to catalyze transesterification of a mixture of edible and inedible oils viz. soybean, jatropha and pongamia oil for biodiesel production. The characterization of the catalyst was done by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The highest biodiesel yield of 96.57 ± 0.81 % was attained in 3.35 ± 0.15 h under optimal conditions of 9:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil (MRMO), 15 wt% catalyst concentration at 65 °C temperature. The reusability of the catalyst was successfully studied till 3rd cycle, resulting in 82.76 ± 0.80 % biodiesel yield. The feasibility of the resultant methyl esters was asserted by FT-IR, Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance ( 13 C NMR), Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR), and Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. The developed catalyst can be considered an active catalyst, which is advantageous because of its cost-effectiveness and environmentally friendly nature. • Calcined areca nut leaf ash-K 2 CO 3 catalyst utilized for biodiesel production from mixed oil (edible and non-edible). • The catalyst with mesoporous structure and polycrystalline nature has the surface area of 17.772 m 2 g −1 . • The yield of 96.57 ± 0.81 % biodiesel was achieved with a conversion of 97.99 % at the optimum conditions. • The catalyst could be reused up to the 3rd cycles attaining 82.76 ± 0.80 % biodiesel yield.