Spent mushroom substrate decorated magnetic graphene oxide (Fe3O4-GO@K2CO3) nanocomposite for clean fuel production from quaternary oil blend

From the paper

Abstract

Herein, magnetic (Fe₃O₄) graphene oxide (GO) impregnated with K₂CO₃ (Fe₃O₄-GO@K₂CO₃) was prepared. Graphene oxide was synthesized by oxidation of waste biomass, Ganoderma lucidum spent mushroom substrate powder with ferrocene, followed by its magnetization and impregnation with K₂CO₃. The prepared Fe₃O₄-GO@K₂CO₃ nanocomposite material was applied for the transesterification of a quaternary mixture made by mixing four different oils (namely jatropha, neem, soybean, and rice bran oil) in equal ratio. Different characterization approaches were undertaken to examine the structural morphology, elements, and magnetic qualities of the catalyst. The prepared catalyst produced maximum biodiesel of 95.16 ± 0.77 % at optimum conditions of 7 wt% catalyst dose, 9:1 MRMO, and 65 °C temperature. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that the reaction followed pseudo-first order kinetic model with the activation energy of 56.02 kJ mol⁻¹ along with ΔH (enthalpy change) value of 53.31 kJ mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ and ΔS (entropy change) of −0.987 kJ mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. The catalyst indicated good reusability of three successive cycles.