Microwave assisted biodiesel production: Assessment of optimization via RSM techniques

Abstract

This paper is targeted on the assessment of response surface methodology (RSM) based optimization techniques for biodiesel synthesis from waste cooking oil/used cooking oil via CaO catalyzed microwave irradiated process. The biodiesel yield was optimized using following parameters: MeOH: Oil molar ratio (A), CaO amount (w/w %) (B), reaction interval (C). These parameters have an effect on the biodiesel yield which is analyze by various statistical plots. By employing Full Factorial Design (FFD), Box-Behnken Design (BBD) and Central Composite Design (CCD) method, the determined optimum results for A is 9.6:1, 9.33:1, and 9.63:1, for B(w/w %) is 1.33, 1.37 and 1.34, for C (min) is 9.7, 9.28 and 9.87, respectively. Based on Analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis and analysis of statistical plots, BBD and CCD approach is best fitted to the model and may select over FFD approach.