Sustainable Production of Biodiesel from Novel Non-Edible Oil Seeds (Descurainia sophia L.) via Green Nano CeO2 Catalyst

The current study focuses on the synthesis of Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanocatalyst via Tragacanth Gum (TG) using wet impregnation method and its application for sustainable biodiesel production from a novel, non-edible Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl seed oil. D. oil has higher content (36 wt%) free fatty acid (FFA) value (0.6 mg KOH/g). Innovative analytical methods, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive (EDX), transmission (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, were used to characterize newly synthesized, environmentally friendly, recyclable CeO2-TG phytonanocatalyst (FT-IR). results show that was 22 nm in diameter with spherical shape outer morphology, while inner structure hexagonal. Due low FFA content, pretreated transesterified single step. Using varying parameters, optimized process variables determined Response Surface Methodology (RSM). optimum values 8:1 methanol molar ratio, 0.3 wt% catalyst concentration, 90 °C temperature, reaction time 210 min 98% yield. recently created reliable effective, three times reusability transesterification reaction. Thin layer chromatography (TLC), FT-IR, gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GCMS), Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses synthesized biodiesel. Physico-chemical properties biodiesel, i.e., Kinematic viscosity (4.23 mm2/s), density (0.800 kg/m3), pour point (−7 °C), cloud (−12 flash (73.5 °C) agree well international standards (ASTM-6751, 951), (EU-14214), China (GB/T 20828) standards. demonstrated remarkable stability, indicating bright future industrial low-cost feedstock.