Biodiesel production from beef tallow using the barium oxide catalyst

Abstract

In the current study, the production of a biodiesel fuel with the standard quality from beef tallow, using barium oxide catalyst was investigated. The results of the optimization of biodiesel production conditions such as the molar ratio of oil to methanol (1:8, 1:12, and 1:16), catalyst weight percentage (3, 3.5, and 4%), reaction temperature (50, 65, and 75 °C), and reaction time (4, 5, and 6 h) using the Taguchi statistical method indicated that the average production yield of 94.95% (for 3 times of repetitions) was achieved in the oil to methanol molar ratio of 1:16, catalyst weight fraction of 4%, reaction temperature of 50 °C, and reaction time of 5 h. The quality of the produced biodiesel sample showed that the flame point, viscosity, and cetane number of the biodiesel sample were in the allowed range. Additionally, the result of FTIR test on the barium oxide catalyst was studied and compared to the standard data. Reusability studies also showed that there was a gradual decline in the catalytic activity of the recovered catalyst after 5 cycles.