Optimization of novel Lepidium perfoliatum Linn. Biodiesel using zirconium-modified montmorillonite clay catalyst

This work reports the potential of novel non-edible seed oil of Lepidium perfoliatum Linn. (LSO) for accessing its potential to synthesize biodiesel using zirconium-modified montmorillonite clay catalyst. The newly synthesized zirconium-modified clay catalyst (ZrO-Mmt) was characterized using by X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transfer Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the Lepidium biodiesel (LBD) yield. Maximum biodiesel yield (88%) achieved under optimized reaction conditions were 1:15 oil: methanol, 3.5% catalyst amount at135 degrees C for 4h respectively. Different techniques like FTIR, GC/MS, H-1-NMR, and C-13-NMR were used for characterizing LBD. Additionally, major fuel properties of LBD for instance kinematic viscosity (4.10 mm(2)/s), density (0.8212kg/L), cloud point (-8 degrees C), flash point (74 degrees C), and pour point (-9 degrees C) agree well with the international biodiesel standards. Overall, Lepidium perfoliatum Linn. seed oil and ZrO-Mmt clay catalysts appear to be cheap, stable, and highly active contenders for the biodiesel industry.