Synthesis of Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) from Ripe Plantain Peels Doped with Rice Husk and its Application in Biodiesel Production using Castor Oil )RICINUS COMMUNIS)

Abstract

The goal of this study was to produce an energetic catalyst from ripe plantain peels and rice husk for biodiesel production. Caustic potash doped with Rice Husk, a heterogeneous solid catalyst, was made by wet impregnation at totally different conditions of calcination before doping and doping before calcination labelled catalysts A and B respectively. The properties of the catalysts were characterized utilizing Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X. Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier Transform. Infrared spectrum analysis (FT-IR). The characterized catalysts showed improved and increased chemical process properties for reaction. The synthesized catalysts A and B were used for biodiesel production through Transesterification reaction exploiting castor oil, at a latent period of 3 hour, temperature of 60 oC, catalyst loading of 2.0 wt/wt% and alcohol to oil proportion of 6:1. each catalysts showed chemical process activity, but catalyst A had a stronger proportion yield of 91.5 % biodiesel as compared to that of catalyst B of 88.6 % biodiesel.