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Rajak, et al.

Since acid-catalyzed transesterification may esterify for different situations may differ. Although technologies,
FFAs into their corresponding methyl esters, it is such as resins that exchange ions and electro-catalytic
unaffected by high FFA levels and can increase the reactors work well for metal oxide catalysts, they are
output of biodiesel. In addition, this analysis highlights often not appropriate for biomass-based heterogeneous
how catalyst size, surface area, basicity, and acidity catalysts. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the obvious
all have a major influence on the output of biodiesel advantages of heterogeneous catalysis for sustainability
and transesterification. Increased surface area and and the environment suggest a bright future. However,
tiny particles allow catalysts to better reach active additional studies and development into reasonable
sites, which improve the generation of biodiesel. It and effective technology are required to make these
has not yet been determined that the catalyst surface processes commercially feasible. Important topics
area and biodiesel production are directly correlated. requiring further investigation include:
Since they react more quickly than acid catalysts, (i) Improving catalyst yield and boosting the quantity
basic functionalized catalysts are very useful for the of cycles for reuse
manufacture of biodiesel. Magnetic functionalized (ii) Creating novel catalysts, especially ones made from
heterogeneous basic catalysts are also easy to separate industrial waste or biomass
from the reaction media, which increases the catalyst’s (iii) Increasing the selectivity, renewability, and
reusability across a number of cycles. lowering the deactivation rates of catalysts
(iv) Designing reactors and procedures that are
12. Difficulties and forthcoming tasks economical
(v) Developing innovative upstream and downstream
The heterogeneous catalysis transesterification method procedures to increase productivity.
for producing biodiesel is very simple, but it necessitates
a significant financial outlay for implementation. 13. Circular bioeconomy
Because they can function with lower reactor capacities,
ongoing reactors are typically chosen due to their The incorporation of a circular bioeconomy strategy in
increased efficiency. When it comes to heterogeneous the conversion of oils to biodiesel by transesterification
catalysis, the most popular reactor types are: has been the focus of limited research, such as the study
438
(i) Biodiesel, methanol, and glycerol, which are conducted by Tulashie et al. A circular bioeconomy
collected in the permeate stream and separated in prioritizes the production of biodiesel in a sustainable
packed bed reactors and resource-efficient manner while minimizing
(ii) Reactors with trickle bed technology, in which oil waste, lowering dependence on scarce resources, and
is supplied through a tube and dispersed across the encouraging a regenerative, closed-loop framework.
bed of catalysts The following guidelines should be the main focus of
(iii) Reactors with membranes in the packed bed future studies in this field:
that allow goods and unreacted reactants to flow (i) Employing non-food and renewable feedstocks:
through and be gathered in different containers to future research should focus on employing waste
give selectivity. Since it has a lower boiling point, materials or by-products, including non-edible
methanol is repeatedly evaporated, distilled, and then oils or agricultural residues, as feedstock to avoid
recycled back into the process to lessen depletion competing with food production
(iv) Resins that exchange ions (ii) Turning waste into valuable resources: gathering
(v) Electro-catalytic reactors and turning used waste streams high in lipids, such
(vi) Standard homogeneous batch reactors that have as animal fats and cooking oils, creating biodiesel
been improved with a magnetic field to aid in the is a crucial step in the manufacture of biodiesel for
recovery and separation of catalysts. an effective circular bioeconomy. This method will
increase resource efficiency and assist in reducing
Reactor changes or a reactor overhaul would be waste
necessary to integrate these technologies into the (iii) Encouraging systems with closed loops:
present biodiesel facilities, which rely on homogeneous waste products, such as glycerol, which are
catalysis. Before making any investment decisions, frequently created, should be treated throughout
a thorough examination should be carried out, as the transesterification for the extraction of important
availability of various technologies and their suitability chemicals or used in novel ways, such as making

Volume 22 Issue 5 (2025) 32 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025130095