Response Surface Methodology Based Optimization of Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil

Abstract

According to the directive of the European Union on the incorporation of biodiesel in fuels by 2020, the aim of this study is to contribute to understanding the feasibility of using ester methyl of waste cooking oil (EMWC Oil) in diesel engine. However, biodiesel is a renewable environmental friendly fuel consisting of esters methyl of vegetable oil, generally produced by transesterification reaction of oils seeds and animal fats. In this study, biodiesel synthesis by transesterification of waste cooking oil has been realized. The biodiesel is produced via transesterification reaction using methanol (6:1 molar ration), 0.5% of sodium hydroxide at 55°C for 60 min of duration and Stirring speed of 200 rpm. The application of design experiment methodology for response surface has allowed us to determine the optimum factors influencing on the transesterification reaction efficiency. The synthesized biodiesel has been subject to several characterizations in order to evaluate its quality by comparing its different physicochemical properties with those described in international norms. Keywords Biodiesel • Transesterification • Response surface methodology 24.1 Introduction Depletion of the fossil fuels and environment degradation mainly caused by vehicles emissions, lead to search an alternative fuel that is available, renewable, technically feasible, biodegradable, economically profitable and environmentally friendly [1, 2]. Biodiesel is one of one potential candidate to replace conventional diesel fuel.

Experimental optimization of Waste Cooking Oil ethanolysis for biodiesel production using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

“…FCCD was applied in this study to explore not only the individual effect of process parameters on biodiesel yield, but also their interactive effects on the response. Three variables, ethanol-oil molar ratio (x 1 ), catalyst concentration (x 2 ) and stirring speed (x 3 ) selected on the basis of related literature research and preliminary experiments in our laboratory [34][35][36][37][38], were considered as independent variables affecting the conversion rate of WCO to biodiesel. The response selected was the yield of ethyl ester (Y%).…”