SYNTHESIS

This study addresses the growing demand for renewable energy and sustainable chemical processes by investigating the production of a novel, bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst derived from readily available waste banana peels, zeolite, and periwinkle shells for biodiesel synthesis. The methodology involved systematic catalyst synthesis from the three precursor materials through calcination at 800°C for 3 hours, followed by characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to confirm Ca–Si–Ti oxide phase formation and identify crystalline structures contributing to catalytic activity. Feedstock physicochemical properties including acid value, iodine value, saponification value, density, and viscosity were determined. Simplex lattice mixture design optimized the neem oil-waste cooking oil blending ratio for maximum free fatty acid reduction. The transesterification process employed response surface methodology (RSM) with 29 experimental runs to optimize reaction parameters: time (30–150 minutes), temperature (40–80°C), catalyst loading (1–10 wt%), and methanol-to-oil ratio (3:1–10:1). Kinetic studies determined reaction order and activation energy, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyzed the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) composition of the produced biodiesel.

Schiff bases and their complexes are versatile compounds synthesized from the condensation of an amino compound with carbonyl compounds and widely used for industrial purposes and also exhibit a broad range of biological activities including antifungal, antibacterial, antimalarial, antiproliferative, anti inflammatory, antiviral, and antipyretic properties. Many Schiff base complexes show excellent ca alytic activity in various reactions and in the presence of moisture. Over the past few years, there have been many reports on their applications in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. The high thermal and moisture stabilities of many Schiff base complexes were useful attributes for their application as catalysts in reactions involving at high temperatures. The activity is usually increased by complexation therefore to understand the properties of both ligands and metal can lead to the synthesis of highly active compounds. The influence of certain metals on the biological activity of these compounds and their intrinsic chemical interest as multidentate ligands has prompted a considerable increase in the study of their coordination behaviour. Development of a new chemotherapeutic Schiff bases and their metal complexes is now attracting the attention of medicinal chemists.