Paper waste-derived functionalized biochar catalyst for production of biodiesel using Jatropha curcas oil feedstock

Abstract

In this investigation, we engineered a biochar catalyst by functionalization with 4-benzenediazonium sulfonate, from biomass for potential use in sustainable biodiesel production. The study examined how different ZnCl₂ impregnation ratios affected the catalyst's surface area and catalytic efficiency through BET surface analyzer. The optimal ratio of 1:2 biomass to ZnCl₂ resulted in superior surface characteristics, with a maximum surface area of 540 m² g⁻¹. Under optimized conditions (1:20 JCO:MeOH molar ratio, 8 wt% catalyst loading, 100 °C temperature, 60 min reaction time), an impressive 94.2 ± 0.2 % biodiesel yield was achieved with a low activation energy of 40.427 kJ mol⁻¹. The catalyst demonstrated high reusability over six cycles, with a modest activity loss (87.1 ± 0.2 % yield in the sixth round) due to active site leaching, as established by EDS data. Finally, the study makes future recommendations based on the observed gaps in the literature using unique bibliometric analysis.