RICE BRAN

This research examined the optimization of microwave-assisted biodiesel synthesis from neem oil by utilizing a bifunctional catalyst derived from waste cow bone and rice bran. The bifunctional catalyst was developed by combining the acid and basic precursors to facilitate simultaneous esterification and transesterification reaction. Rice bran was carbonized and treated with 1.5 M H₂SO₄ to produce the acid precursor, while cow bone was calcined and treated with 1.5 M KOH to produce the basic precursor. These precursors were then combined incorporating the wet impregnation technique. Neem oil characterization revealed an acid value of 17.67 mg KOH/g, a free fatty acid (FFA) content of 8.835%, a saponification value of 196.35 mg KOH/g and a calculated molecular weight of 941.91 g/mol showing that it is suitable for a high FFA feedstock that requires a bifunctional catalytic approach. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used for process optimization in order evaluate the effects of key reaction variables and identify the ideal conditions for optimizing biodiesel yield.

This study explored the optimization of the microwave aided biodiesel production from neem oil with a bio-waste catalyst derived from cow bones and rice bran using central composite design, an experiment analysis on response surface model. The bio-waste catalyst was synthesized by the carbonization and sulphonation of rice bran to produce an acid precursor, while cow bones was calcined and treated with KOH to create the basic precursor. Both precursors were then impregnated using the wet-impregnation method. Also, a model was developed to simulate the process and examine the interactive effect of process input variables on neem oil biodiesel yield using the central composite approach. These inputs generated about 50 runs to be carried out with the catalyst using methanol under optimal conditions. In this study, we aimed to optimize biodiesel production from neem oil using a microwave- assisted process with a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst synthesized from cow bones and rice bran. Oil characterization was carried out according to the ASTM standards, the catalyst failed to facilitate the transesterification reaction resulting in no biodiesel formation. Biodiesel production was carried out using sodium hydroxide which proved the viability of the oil and this outcome underscores the critical importance of proper catalyst synthesis and activation in biodiesel production. Additionally, the presence of impurities or moisture during catalyst preparation could have led to deactivation, further inhibiting the reaction. Fresh catalyst samples have been impregnated and are awaiting analysis results