Enhancement of Biodiesel Production from Palm Fatty Acid Distillate using Methyl T-Butyl Ether Co-Solvent: Process Optimization

Abstract

Biodiesel production from a non-edible feedstock, palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), in the presence of methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) co-solvent was investigated. The reaction conditions were optimized in terms of their effect on free fatty acid (FFA) conversion by response surface methodology (RSM). The maximum FFA conversion of 98.93 wt.% was obtained at a molar ratio of methanol to FFA of 7:1, using 10 wt.% H 2 SO 4 during a reaction time of 70 min with 25 wt.% of MTBE co-solvent. The addition of MTBE co-solvent increased the reaction rate of esterification and acid-catalyzed transesterification. As a result of the increased reaction rates, the amount of unreacted FFA and glycerides in the final product were lower than were found in the product of a co-solvent free system.