Application of LaNi_1-xCo_xO₃ perovskite structure catalyst for conversion of waste vegetable cooking oil to biodiesel

The catalytic activity of the lanthanum nickelate (LaNiO_3; LNO) and cobalt-doped lanthanum nickel oxide (LaNi_1-xCo_xO_3; LN_1-xC_xO) as Ni-based perovskite structures for the waste vegetable cooking oil (WVCO) conversion to biodiesel was assessed. The phase purity and structural identity of the synthesized samples LNO and LN_1-xC_xO were verified by BET, NH₃/CO₂-TPD, SEM-EDX, ICP-OES, XRD, and TEM. From analyzing the characterization of catalysts, it is evident that doping LNO with cobalt, in addition to increasing the catalyst's surface area, by the formation of oxygen vacancies in the perovskite structure caused the improvement of the catalytic activity by providing more active sites during the WVCO transesterification reaction. According to the analysis of the data obtained from the optimization of the WVCO transesterification reaction via response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD), the use of the LN_0.8C_0.2O catalyst resulted in the WVCO conversion of 97.28 % to biodiesel.