Abstract
Biodiesel is considered a sustainable alternative to conventional diesel by virtue of its distinct environmental advantages. The production of biodiesel from waste oils and fats is particularly attractive because the raw materials are inexpensive and their removal from circulation avoids inappropriate disposal and can generate extra revenue for small businesses. Considering the potential use of waste oils and fats for biodiesel production, we have examined mathematical modeling of the transesterification reactions using the Scilab application as a mean of predicting the efficacy of the process under different imposed conditions. The mathematical model used in this study confirmed the result obtained in the laboratory relating to the production of biodiesel at a temperature of 78.5 °C. Our results also demonstrate that increasing the temperature inside a batch reactor to 130 °C caused the reactions to occur faster with the possibility of attaining approximately 73% conversion of the oil into biodiesel. Mathematical modeling can be used to simulate varying reaction conditions and represents an important tool in decision-making during planning of the production process.
Published Version
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