| Summary: | This study critically examined the visibility of Asimina triloba oil for synthesis of biodiesel in the presence of ethanolic CaO–K2O –SiO2 base catalyst developed from residual wood ash powder. The oil was extracted using continuous extraction method. The physicochemical properties of the oil was determined for its production routes Two steps reaction process were adopted; first to lower the acid value of Asimina triloba oil by considering three factors namely; HClO3 conc., M-OH/Oil molar ratio, and reaction time. The second step convert the esterified oil to biodiesel by considering three variables namely: reaction time: X1, catalyst amount: X2, and E-OH/oil molar ratio: X3 as variables constraint using I-Optimal design by. Catalyst obtained from (RWA) was characterized using SEM, FTIR, XRF-FT, BET isothermal adsorption, and qualitative analysis. Catalyst reusability, and economical appraisal of the biodiesel synthesized were also examined. The results showed that Asimina triloba seed is rich in oil with 40.34%, and the oil is highly unsaturated with 88.90%, having high acid value of 3.80 mg KOH/g oil. Based on first step, the acid value of the oil was reduced to 1.20 mg KOH/g oil which was used as esterified oil in the second stage. A maximum experimental biodiesel yield of 98.73% (vol/vol) was obtained, but I-optimal design predicted 98.93% (vol/vol) yield at the following variables conditions; X1 = 59.976 (min), X2 = 3.204 (% wt.); X3 = 6.979 (vol/vol) which was validated as 98.87% (vol/vol). Catalyst characterization showed that the RWA contained high amount of CaO of 42.516 (% wt.), K2O of 12.168 (% wt.), and SiO2 of 23.942 (% wt.) which serve as base catalyst. Catalyst reusability showed that the catalyst RWA degradation effects start at 8th cycles, and the economic appraisal showed the production of biodiesel using Asimina triloba oil is cost effective fuel properties in line with biofuel standard.
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