Mesoporous silica catalyst using Sapindus rarak extract as template for deoxygenation of waste cooking oil to biofuels

Mesoporous silica was synthesized using biosurfactant templates to tailor the mesoporosity and catalytic activity in waste cooking oil conversion to liquid hydrocarbon. Facile maceration of Sapindus rarak fruit produced extract with amphiphilic properties. The effect of saponin biosurfactant in controlling mesoporosity was determined by varying silica to extract at 1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:2 w/w ratios. The silica formed sponge-like morphology with 3D intraparticle disordered mesopores. The mesoporosity reaches optimum with 6.08 nm pore size, 541 m²/g surface area, and 0.57 cc/g pore volume. High mesoporosity in silica enhances waste cooking oil conversion during deoxygenation reaction, achieving 80.60 % hydrocarbon selectivity and reducing carbon coke.