Preparation and characterization of Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) based biocatalyst for the transformation of kernel oil to biodiesel

The proportion of palm oil produced worldwide as of 2023-2024 was 79.46 million metric tons. Specifically, 90 % of the biomass from palm trees is wasted, and only 10 % of the total oil palm products are made from palm kernel oil. The majority of research' conclusions show that PKS has enormous potential as a bio-fuel for the generation of syngas and biodiesel, as well as a bio-adsorbent, abrasive, detoxifying, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant substance. Thus, in the presence of catalytically calcined kernel shell ash, this study uses bagasse from palm kernels as a bio-adsorbent of palm kernel oil for the production of biofuel. The proportion of palm oil produced worldwide as of 2023-2024 was 79.46 million metric tons. Specifically, 90 % of the biomass from palm trees is wasted, and only 10 % of the total oil palm products are made from palm kernel oil. The majority of research's conclusions show that PKS has enormous potential as a biofuel for the generation of syngas and biodiesel, as well as a bio-adsorbent, abrasive, detoxifying, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant substance. Thus, in the presence of catalytically calcined kernel shell ash, this study uses bagasse from palm kernels as a bioadsorbent of palm kernel oil for the production of biofuel. Using definite screening design (DSD), the procedure was improved by taking into account four factors: reaction temperature, reaction duration, CSKP concentration, and methanol-oil-molar- ratio (MOH/OMR). These variables give rise to thirteen experimental runs. The ability of kernel shell bagasse to function as a bio-adsorbent for the transformation of high-acidity oil into low-acidity oil was demonstrated by the results. K>Mg>Ca>P>Na>Mn was discovered to be present in the developed CSKP. A biofuel yield of 99.73 % (wt/wt.) at a reaction time of 67.574 min, a reaction temperature of 67.116 min, a CKSP of 3.957 % (wt.), and a MOH/ OMR of 1:7.989 in 100 outcomes at 100 % desirability were projected using statistical process optimization. Three experimental runs were used to validate the projected value, and an average value of 99.65 % (wt./wt.) was found. The catalyst can be recycled, and the biofuel grade that was created showed a high potential for energy. According to the study's findings, palm kernel fruit wastes have the potential to be used as a raw material to make biodiesel.