Production of Biodiesel from Phyllanthus emblica Seeds Using Activated Charcoal as Heterogeneous Catalyst

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly energy sources has led to increased attention toward biodiesel as a viable alternative to conventional fossil fuels. However, the reliance on edible feed stocks for biodiesel production has raised food security and ethical concerns, prompting the exploration of non-edible oil sources. In the present investigation, Phyllanthus emblica (Indian gooseberry) seed oil is a non-edible and underutilized resource was evaluated for biodiesel production. The seeds were dried, powdered, and subjected to optimized oil extraction using multiple techniques. The extracted oil was characterized via Gas Chromatography–Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) to determine its fatty acid composition. Biodiesel synthesis was carried out through transesterification using dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a greener alternative to methanol and activated charcoal as a solid catalyst. The activated charcoal was prepared and analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to assess its surface morphology and functional groups. Reaction parameters—including temperature (40, 60, 80 °C), DMC-to-oil molar ratio (2:1–8:1), and catalyst concentration (1.5–2.5 wt%)—were optimized to achieve maximum biodiesel yield. The produced biodiesel was confirmed and characterized using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS), which validated the formation of fatty acid alkyl esters. The study highlights Phyllanthus emblica seed oil as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel production and emphasizes the potential of environmentally benign catalysts and transesterification agents in green fuel technology.