Biodiesel Production from Used Vegetable Oil Using Ethanol and Sodium Methoxide Catalyst

Abstract

Biodiesel is derived from triglycerides by transesterification with methanol or ethanol. In this study, used vegetable oil was transesterified with ethanol using sodium methoxide as catalyst. Parameter affecting the process transesterification were investigated follow this detail. The effects of catalyst to oil volume ratio (3-7:100 %v/v), ethanol to oil volume ratio (20-40:100 %v/v), reaction temperature (55-70 °C) and reaction time (15-90 min.) on the percentage conversion of fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). The FAEE and FAME conversion were detected by 1H-NMR. The result showed that the maximum percentages at 84 % of FAEE and 16 % of FAME were obtained. These conversions were obtained at the catalyst to oil volume ratio of 4:100 %v/v, ethanol to oil volume ratio of 35:100 %v/v, temperature of 65 °C and reaction time of 75 min. The properties of mixed FAEE and FAME biodiesel were within the limits of EN standard. The confirmation result by 1H-NMR and ATR-FTIR also indicated the conversion of used vegetable oil into biodiesel.