Utilization of sustainable nanocatalysts for the conversion of vulnerable waste oil into biodiesel

Abstract

With the increasing use of fossil fuels, there is a strong demand to shift energy reliance toward biodiesel as a sustainable and alternative energy resource. The viability of producing biofuels by converting different raw materials, including rapeseed oil, palm oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, leftover cooking oil, waste frying oil, dairy scum, chicken fat, and others, has been the subject of a focused inquiry. Catalytic transesterifications have been popular methods for producing biodiesel due to their simplicity in operation, cost-effectiveness in commercial exploitation, higher biodiesel productivity, and conversion efficiency. In industrial chemical processes, heterogeneous catalysts are widely exploited because they are easy to separate from the final product and generally maintain their catalytic activity after being recycled repeatedly. Highly advanced heterogeneous catalysts, known as nanocatalysts, are frequently deployed to accelerate biodiesel production because of their remarkable catalytic activity. This review article examines the transesterification reactions facilitated by various nanocatalysts to explore their potential for promoting sustainable processes. Selected nanocatalysts are highlighted due to their exceptional catalytic efficiency and capacity to be reused. The conclusive summary discusses the numerous existing impediments in the production of biodiesel and proposes potential future research avenues in the utilization of advanced nanocatalysts. © 2025