Abstract
In an attempt to find a single stage conversion of high free fatty acid (FFA) of Pink Solo Carica papaya oilseed rather than the double steps, acidic catalyst was derived from burnt fermented sweet corn stock powder immersed in acidic environment, and was used to convert Pink Solo Carica papaya oilseed to biodiesel. The derived catalyst was characterized using TGA, ZETA, FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRF-FS, and BET analysis. Process modeling and optimization was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN). The produced biodiesel was quantified by determining its physicochemical parameters, and the strength of acidified catalyst (AC) was tested in reusability cycles. Dataset show the extracted oil is acidic (acid value >3.0 mg KOH/g oil). The produced AC showed the presence of Quartz (68%), Orthoclase (7.1%), ibise (9.8%), and illite (15%). Process modeling and optimization validated the optimum biodiesel yield of 99.02% (wt./wt.) at X(1) = 78.42 (min), X(2) = 2.19 (%wt.), and X(3) = 5.969 for RSM(BBD), and 99.97% (wt./wt.) at X(1) = 70.41 (min), X(2) = 5.40 (%wt.), and X(3) = 6.00 for ANN(FA). Catalyst recyclability test data undergoes 10 recycles, and the produced biodiesel qualities were in line with the recommended standard. The study concluded that the burnt sweet corn stock powder, when immersed in acid, can convert high FFA oil of Pink Solo Carica papaya to biodiesel in a single stage.