Ultrasonic and microwave effects on crystalline Mn(II) carbonate catalyzed biodiesel production using watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) seed oil and alcohol (fibrous flesh) as exclusive green feedstock

Ultrasonic sonication and microwave irradiation exhibited pronounced effects on crystalline Mn (II) carbonate catalyzed biodiesel production using watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) seed oil and alcohol (fibrous flesh) as exclusive green feedstock. Both ingredients, alcohol and oil, necessary for biodiesel production are extracted from watermelon fruit. Mn(II) carbonate and watermelon fruit, which are used for transesterification, are inexpensive, easily available and environmentally safe. The reactions occurred smoothly under conventional conditions and afforded good product yields. However, microwave assisted and ultrasonically assisted reactions exhibited highly significant reduction in reaction times with a trend: microwave assisted (35 min) << ultrasonically assisted (2.0 h) << conventional (8.0 h). The whole exercise is operationally simple, environmentally safe, energy saving, time saving and green, which fits well into the green chemical principles of Anastas and Warner.