Renewable Diesel Synthesized from Moringa Seeds Oil Using Heterogeneous Biocatalysts Derived from Plantain Peels Ash

This study focuses on exploring the potential of Moringa seed oil as a viable source for biodiesel production using heterogenous biocatalysts derived from plantain peels ash. The research entails the extraction of moringa oil using a Soxhlet extraction process and normal hexane as a solvent. The chemical and physical properties of the oil were found to align with the quality standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). However, the oil's viscosity was too high, and it was identified as a challenge. Through transesterification process, biodiesel was successfully produced, with a thorough analysis of key process variables such as residence time, reaction temperature, amount of biocatalyst and the volume of methanol using Design Expert version 13 software and Box-Behnken design. The statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the yield of biodiesel was influenced by both individual and interaction effects. The optimization process resulted in a remarkable biodiesel yield of 98.322%, achieved at a residence time of 360 minutes, reaction temperature of 55°C, methanol of 60 ml, amount of biocatalyst of 12.50g; cetane number was 41 and specific gravity was 0.81g/mol. While most properties of the produced biodiesel met ASTM standards, the density and viscosity exceeded the limits, indicating a need for blending with diesel fuel before use. It’s recommended that explorations on other heterogenous biocatalysts, investigating other non-edible oil seeds and develop novel reactor designs for biodiesel synthesis, collaboration and knowledge sharing between the industry and the academic sector to determine scalability and commercial viability. This study not only contributes to the advancement of renewable energy but also underscores the potential for a more environmentally sustainable future through the utilization of Moringa seed oil for biodiesel production.