Enhancement of biodiesel production using magnetic nanocatalyst CrFe2O4 from mixed waste cooking oil by an empirical model

Biodiesel has achieved widespread recognition as an unconventional energy source, despite its extra manufacturing cost and sustainable resources. Mixed waste cooking oil is one of the best feedstock for sustainable biodiesel production. This study looked at the prospect of using the easily separable magnetic nanocatalyst CrFe 2 O 4 to reduce the manufacturing cost and being used in both esterification and transesterification simultaneously with less percentage of 0.5, produced the highest oil conversion. Before being used in conversion process, the magnetic nanocatalyst underwent Fourier transform infrared, XRD, scanning electron microscope, TGA, AFM, and BET analysis to evaluate its characteristics. Response surface methodology was employed in the conversion process and achieved 97% yield with the utilization of 0.4 (v/v) methanol/oil ratio, 0.5 wt. % catalyst concentration, 600 rpm stirring speed, and the duration of 80 min. The effect of methanol consumption and time was considerably more significant than the effect of stirring speed and catalyst usage, according to the analysis of variance. The generated biodiesel met all physicochemical characteristics with high potential, according to ASTM and EN standards. Right combinations of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids confirm the promising feasibility of the application of waste biomass feedstocks as an alternate option for the sustainable, cost effective and energy efficient synthesis of biodiesel production.