Study on biodiesel synthesis from desilked bombyx mori pupae waste using heterogeneous self catalyst

Abstract

newline The growing energy demand of the world has shifted focus towards more sustainable and renewable sources of energy. Sustainability in terms of energy production, use, and reuse is critical for the growth of any nation. In India, the fuel used for transportation sector covers over 70 % of the total energy consumption of the nation. This is mostly imported fossil fuel, which costs Rs. 6,72,000 crores in import. Other sources of energy that are used in the transportation sector include electricity from renewable and non-renewable sources and vegetable oil. Of the other non-renewable sources used, biodiesel has gained significant importance as it can be used in the current engine system without the need for any modification to it. Biodiesel can be defined as alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids that are formed by the transesterification of triglycerides from various feedstocks with alcohol. As the quality of the biodiesel produced is dependent on the nature of triglycerides, it is pertinent to find more cheaper and good quality feedstock for the commercialisation of the production and use of biodiesel. newlineBeing a tropical subcontinent, India is blessed with a wide variety of flora and fauna that serve different roles in an ecosystem. The metabolites of such organisms are converted into useful byproducts to improve the sustainability of a human habituated niche. For example, the use of cow dung, a secondary agricultural waste, as a fuel is a step towards sustainability and solid waste management. Though there are some domestic ways of managing secondary agricultural waste, no proper management techniques are being employed at a commercial scale. The practice of Sericulture produces a newlineiv newlineputrescible solid waste that consists of desilked dried Bombyx mori pupae (DDBP) along with its palade layer.