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In this study, transesterification of canola oil with methanol has been studied in a heterogeneous system, using MgO-supported KOH catalysts. All of the catalysts were prepared by incipient-wetness impregnation of an aqueous solution of KOH on MgO support. Effects of the methanol/canola oil molar ratio, reaction temperature, loadings of KOH, and reaction time in biodiesel production were investigated. The catalyst with 20 wt % KOH loaded on MgO gave the highest basicity and the best catalytic activity for this reaction. The highest conversion of canola oil of 99.36% and the highest FAME yield of 95.05% were obtained.

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Biodiesel has poor cold flow properties due to their high saturated fatty acid content. Ethyl levulinate is used as bio-based cold flow improver additive in biodiesel. In this work, both ethyl levulinate and biodiesel were synthesized in the laboratory. Ethyl levulinate was added to the biodiesel at different rates, i.e, 5, 10, 15, 20 (vol %). The effect of ethyl levulinate addition on density, kinematic viscosity, acid value, cloud point and pour point was determined and compared to the EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 specification. Consequently, ethyl levulinate appears acceptable as a cold flow improver for biodiesel fuel.