| Summary: | The present study describes the production of biodiesel from castor plant (Riccinus communis) using heterogeneous base catalyst of NaOH dispersed on bentonite. The catalysts were prepared via wet impregnation by
loading a known amount of NaOH on natural bentonite in various NaOH-to-bentonite ratios of 5 %, 10 %, 20 %,
and 25 % (w/w). The prepared catalysts were characterized by AAS, FTIR, XRD, GSA, and SEM; and further used
in a transesterification reaction at 60 ◦C for 4 h. The liquid yields were analyzed by FTIR and GC–MS, 1
H NMR,
and ASTM. The modification of a larger concentration of NaOH led to decreasing the mineral structure of natural
bentonite. The homogeneous distribution of NaOH on bentonite influenced the increasing pore size of catalyst
compared to natural bentonite. The enhanced physicochemical properties significantly increased the catalytic
activity. The transesterification reaction of castor oil into biodiesel over 25 % NaOH/bentonite catalyst showed
the highest conversion of 76.94 % biodiesel yield. The obtained biodiesel properties was agreed with the ASTM
standard specifications.
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