A CRITICAL REVIEW OF GREEN SYNTHESIS APPROACHES TO BIODIESEL PRODUCTION USING IONIC LIQUIDS

Abstract

The increment in the consumption of fossil fuel led researchers to focus on alternative sources like biodiesel. Biodiesel is acknowledged as encouraging substitute for petroleum, diesel because of its renewable, ecofriendly, better lubricating and sustainable properties. Ionic liquids, recognized for their unique properties, have emerged as promising catalysts in this process. They serve as effective catalysts by facilitating the transesterification of triglycerides derived from renewable feedstocks. Ionic liquids are called “new generation catalysts” because they increase the yield of process many times as compared to conventional catalysts, also ionic liquids can be recycled easily which leads to economic feasibility and reduced environmental impact of biodiesel process. The versatility of ionic liquids extends to their compatibility with different renewable feedstocks such as waste cooking oil, soyabean oil, jatropha oil, coconut oil etc. Their ability to dissolve both polar and non- polar compounds enhances reaction kinetics, resulting in higher conversion rates and increased biodiesel yield. The goal is to synthesize maximum yield of biodiesel using ionic liquids to contribute in an ecofriendly environment. This paper emphasizes their catalytic efficiency, recyclability, and selectivity. This review article explores the field of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using ionic liquids as catalyst and focuses on recent studies and advancements on ionic liquids.