Recent advancement in biodiesel production methodologies using various feedstock: A review

The over-exploitation of non-renewable resources leads to the depletion of energy reserves, as well as a rise in the price of petroleum-based fuels. Thus, there is a need to find suitable and sustainable substitutes for conventional fuels. The main features required for an alternative fuel are availability and renewability, or lower dependence on restricted resources accompanied with no or lower pollution. Due to their eco-friendly and non-toxic nature, biodiesel has been attracting increasing interest. Biodiesel production can be accomplished using various raw materials, catalysts, and technologies. In recent years, nanocatalyst technology has been widely used for biodiesel production due to its numerous advantages, such as large surface area, reusability and high activity of the nanocatalyst. This review provides an overview of biodiesel production with a description of various kinds of feedstock used, their advantages and disadvantages. Further, it offers a detailed description of different classes of biodiesel, including a characterization, assessment of qualities and limitations, and quality analysis of each type. Various methodologies used for biodiesel production are also elucidated, focusing on the potential of nanocatalyst processes. The aspect of nanocatalyst regeneration and reuse is also considered. This review delivers a comprehensive overview of biodiesel synthesis by discussing recent trends and challenges in this field, which will further the development of economically sustainable biodiesel production.