LAUSR

Abstract The current policies of govt. of India on biodiesel production and commercialization have encouraged to explore this area widely. In this study barium stannate perovskite was synthesized to evaluate its activity and stability as a solid base catalyst in biodiesel synthesis from waste cooking oil (WCO). Physicochemical characterizations of the catalyst and feedstock were thoroughly investigated by various techniques. Experimental planning was executed to investigate the impact of various parameters on methyl esterification reaction. 98% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) conversion was achieved at following optimum reaction condition: Ba: Sn atomic ratio 1:1, catalyst activation temperature 850 °C, oil to methanol molar ratio 1 : 16, catalyst concentration 2.5 wt%, temperature 65°C, time 25 min. Catalyst endurance test suggested that the BaSnO3 has the appreciable catalyzing potency and stability for several times use. The characteristic difference in FTIR of fresh catalyst and used catalyst indicated the mode of interaction between catalyst and reactants. On this basis a plausible E-R mechanism has been proposed. Kinetic study of the transesterification process by using BaSnO3 revealed that this process was base catalyzed transesterification and followed non spontaneous endothermic pathway. High turnover frequency and low E-factor of the catalyst implied that biodiesel production from waste cooking oil by using BaSnO3 was fast, efficient and benign to all environmental prospective.