Synthesis of Magnetic Nanocatalyst CaO/CoFe3O4 for Biodiesel Production using Pongamia pinnata oil Seed

Abstract Biodiesel has emerged as prominent alternative source for commercial fuels. Pongamia pinnata ( P. pinnata ) has been recognised as the potential source for biodiesel, prepared from its seeds. The present study is to develop a novel heterogenous magnetic nano catalyst CaO/CoFe 3 O 4 for the preparation of biodiesel from P. pinnata through transesterification reaction and improve the catalyst reusability. Magnetic core Fe 3 O 4 and CoFe 3 O 4 were prepared by co-precipitation method. Crab shell was calcinated at 600°C for 4 h for the preparation of calcium oxide (CaO). CaO/CoFe 3 O 4 was synthesized by doping of CaO and CoFe 3 O 4 . Characterization of the synthesised catalyst was done using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction and Particle Size Analyzer to analyses the functional group, morphology, crystalline structure and particle size respectively. The optimized parameter for biodiesel production by transesterification are 12:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, 2.5wt% catalyst concentration, 120 min reaction time, 65°C reaction temperature and 500 rpm stirring rate to give a maximum of 98.56 wt% yield. The reusability study conferred that the biodiesel yield of above 92 wt% were obtained when regenerating and reusing the catalyst up to six cycles, further the yield drops below 65 wt% at ninth cycle of catalyst reusability. After transesterification, the fuel properties were analyzed using ASTM D6751 standard and it was found within prescribe limit.