Advances in limitations and opportunities of clean biofuel production to promote decarbonization

Factors such as higher fuel prices, limited and geologically posited fossil fuel resources along with the impact of fossil fuels on global warming are highly unsustainable for growing economies around the globe. For this reason, an unconventional sustainable energy root is desired. In recent years, biodiesel has gained much consideration because of its similar combustion properties like fossil fuels and its synthesis from edible and non-edible oils via a catalytic process. Various catalysts (homogeneous and heterogeneous in nature) have been investigated for sustainable and green production of biodiesel. The heterogeneous catalyst calcium oxide is an abundant, cheap and has a high activity for transesterification reaction. The review provides that there is strong need to focus on exploring the continuous heterogeneous nanoscale calcium oxide catalyst to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness biodiesel production technology. Calcium oxide catalytic activity can be improved by nanotech-nology approach. This approach helps in the production of suitable catalyst at a low cost, minimizes the waste, and results in higher activity and selectivity for desired reaction. This study provides an overview on the liter-ature existing on the preparation of nanosized-Calcium oxide (CaO), utilization for conversion of ester into biodiesel along, advantages over other heterogeneous catalysts and importance as a future catalyst for the production of biodiesel.

Automated summary

Factors such as higher fuel prices, limited fossil fuel resources, and the negative impact of fossil fuels on global warming have made the search for an unconventional sustainable energy source necessary. Biodiesel has gained attention due to its similar properties to fossil fuels and its synthesis from edible and non-edible oils. The heterogeneous catalyst calcium oxide has shown potential for sustainable biodiesel production due to its abundance, low cost, and high activity. Nanotechnology can further improve the catalytic activity of calcium oxide, making it a promising catalyst for biodiesel production.