Transformation of waste seed biomass of Cordia myxa into valuable bioenergy through membrane bioreactor using green nanoparticles of indium oxide

Depletion of non-renewable fuel has obliged researchers to seek out sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives. Membranes have proven to be an effective technique in biofuel production for reaction, purification, and separation, with the ability to use both porous and non-porous membranes. It is demonstrated that a membrane-based sustainable and green production can result in a high degree of process intensification, whereas the recovery and repurposing of catalysts and alcohol are anticipated to increase the process economics. Therefore, in this study sustainable biodiesel was synthesized from inedible seed oil (37 wt%) of Cordia myxa using a membrane reactor. Transesterification was catalyzed by heterogenous nano-catalyst of indium oxide prepared with leaf extract of Boerhavia diffusa. Highest biodiesel yield of 95 wt% was achieved at methanol to oil molar ratio of 7:1, catalyst load 0.8 wt%, temperature 82.5 degrees C and time 180 min In2O3 nanoparticles exhibited reusability up to five successive transesterification rounds. The production of methyl esters was confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. The predominant fatty acid methyl ester detected in the biodiesel was 5, 8-octadecenoic acid. Biodiesel fuel qualities were determined to be com-parable to worldwide ASTM D-6571 and EN-14214 standards. Finally, it was concluded that membrane tech-nology can result in a highly intensified reaction process while efficient recovery of both nano catalysts and methanol increases the economics of transesterification and lead to sustainable production.

Automated summary

The depletion of non-renewable fuel has led researchers to explore sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives. Membrane technology has been proven effective for biofuel production, offering advantages in reaction, purification, and separation processes. In this study, a membrane reactor was used to synthesize biodiesel from inedible seed oil, achieving a high yield of 95 wt% with the inclusion of a nano-catalyst made from leaf extract. The results demonstrate that membrane technology can intensify the reaction process and improve the economics of transesterification, leading to sustainable production.