Abstract
This study investigates the sustainable production of biodiesel from cashew nut seed oil using a heterogeneous catalyst. Transesterification was carried out using methanol in the presence of KI/Al2O3 catalyst under controlled conditions. The produced biodiesel was separated and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to identify functional groups. The FT-IR results confirmed the formation of fatty acid methyl esters, indicating successful biodiesel production. Physicochemical properties such as kinematic viscosity, pour point, cloud point, and flash point were evaluated and compared with ASTM standards. The results showed that all parameters were within acceptable ASTM limits. This study demonstrates that cashew nut seed oil is a viable and sustainable feedstock for biodiesel production and can contribute to renewable energy development.