Alkali salts of heteropoly tungstates: Efficient catalysts for the synthesis of biodiesel from edible and non-edible oils

Alkali salts of tungsten based heteropoly acids with different central atom such as P, Si and Co were prepared and evaluated for transes- terification of both edible and non-edible oils to their corresponding fatty acid methyl esters. The catalyst of sodium salt of tungstic acid with Co as central atom （Na5CoW12O40） showed optimum activity towards transesterification compared with other heteropoly tungstates. The catalysts activities were correlated with the observed physico-chemical characteristics derived from FT-infrared （FT-IR）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia （NH3-TPD） and carbon dioxide （CO2-TPD）. The Na5CoW12O40 catalyst exhibiting high activity even at 65 ℃ is due to the presence of strong acidic as well as basic sites. The disclosed catalyst is tolerable towards water and free fatty acids present in the oils. The influence of catalyst loading, reaction time and reaction temperature is studied to optimize the reaction parameters.

Utilization of Multi-Tasking Non-Edible Plants for Phytoremediation and Bioenergy Source-A Review

Heavy metal contamination of land and freshwater resources is a serious concern worldwide.It adversely affects the health of animals,plants and humans.Therefore,remediation of toxic heavy metals must be highly considered.Unlike other techniques,phytoremediation is a holistic technology and can be used in large scale for soil remediation as it is costless,novel,environmentally-safe and solar-driven technology.Utilization of non-edible plants in phytoremediation is an ingenious technique as they are used to generate new bioenergy resources along with the remediation of contaminated soils.Some nonfood bioenergy crops such as Salix species,Miscanthus species,Populus species,Eucalyptus species,and Ricinus communis exhibit high capability to accumulate various metals and to grow in contaminated lands.However,there are still sustainable challenges facing coupling phytoremediation with bioenergy production from polluted lands.Therefore,there has long been a need for developing different strategies to resolve such challenges.In this article review,we will discuss the phytoremediation mechanism,the technique of phytoremediation coupling with bioenergy production,sustainable problems facing linking phytoremediation with energy production as well as possible strategies to enhance the efficiency of bioenergy plants for soil decontamination by improving their characteristics such as metal uptake,transport,accumulation,and tolerance.

Synthesis and Interfacial Properties of Bio-Based Zwitterionic Surfactants Derived from Different Fatty Acids in Non-Edible Vegetable Oils

Waste cooking oils and non-edible vegetable oils are abundant and renewable resources for bio-based materials which have showed great potential applications in many industries.In this study,five fatty acids commonly found in non-edible vegetable oils,including palmitic acid,stearic acid,linoleic acid,linolenic acid,ricinoleic acid,and their mixtures,were used to produce bio-based zwitterionic surfactants through a facile and high-yield chemical modification.These surfactants demonstrated excellent surface/interfacial properties with the minimum surface tensions ranging from 28.4 mN/m to 32.8 mN/m in aqueous solutions.The interfacial tensions between crude oil and surfactant solutions were remarkably reduced to lower values ranging from 0.0028 mN/m to 0.1983 mN/m without the aid of extra alkali,which particularly implied a great potential application in enhanced oil recovery.Meanwhile,these bio-based surfactants also showed good wetting properties(contact angles of~51°comparing with that of double distilled water,92.04°)and appropriate predicted biodegradability(degradation order of“weeks”for bio-based surfactants synthesized from saturated fatty acids,and“months”for those synthesized from unsaturated fatty acids).Bio-based surfactants synthesized from unsaturated fatty acids showed better interfacial properties in reducing interfacial tension between crude oil and formation water.The bio-based surfactants presented in this study are alternative substitutes for traditional petroleum-based surfactants in various surfactant application fields.

Optimizing Biodiesel Production from Karanja and Algae Oil with Nano Catalyst:RSMand ANN Approach

This study delves into biodiesel synthesis from non-edible oils and algae oil sources using Response Surface Methodology(RSM)and an Artificial Neural Network(ANN)model to optimize biodiesel yield.Blend of C.vulgaris and Karanja oils is utilized,aiming to reduce free fatty acid content to 1%through single-step transesterification.Optimization reveals peak biodiesel yield conditions:1%catalyst quantity,91.47 min reaction time,56.86℃reaction temperature,and 8.46:1 methanol to oil molar ratio.The ANN model outperforms RSM in yield prediction accuracy.Environmental impact assessment yields an E-factor of 0.0251 at maximum yield,indicating responsible production with minimal waste.Economic analysis reveals significant cost savings:30%-50%reduction in raw material costs by using non-edible oils,10%-15%increase in production efficiency,20%reduction in catalyst costs,and 15%-20%savings in energy consumption.The optimized process reduces waste disposal costs by 10%-15%,enhancing overall economic viability.Overall,the widespread adoption of biodiesel offers economic,environmental,and social benefits to a diverse range of stakeholders,including farmers,producers,consumers,governments,environmental organizations,and the transportation industry.Collaboration among these stakeholders is essential for realizing the full potential of biodiesel as a sustainable energy solution.