Production of Biodiesel using locally available resources

Abstract

Biodiesel is fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) produced by transesterification reaction of oils and fats with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. In this study, production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil and methanol by transesterification reaction has been successfully conducted using CaO catalysts. Calcination process of eggshells was was chosen prepare the catalyst and this was done at 900 dregress celsius for 3 hours. The amount of CaO used in the reaction process was in a range from0.5 - 2.5%wt and 6%wt . According to the results obatained from the reaction, it was observed that catalyst with 2%wt CaO was the greatest and showed better results. Transesterification reaction was carried out in 1:9 oil to methanol molar ratio, same reaction time, various amounts of methanol and catalyst. GC-MS analysis confirmed that the biodiesel contents were dominated by methyl palmitate and methyl oleate. The highest biodiesel conversion was found under condition of 1:9 oil to methanol molar ratio, 3 hours of reaction time, and 2%wt of catalyst.