Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oils Using Alkaline Catalysts

Abstract

The transesterification of waste vegetable oil (WVO) with methanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide (KOH) is studied in order to produce biodiesel. All the results were evaluated using central composite design by applying a double 5 level 3 factor full factorial designs. Twenty experiments were replicated under the typical range of parameter conditions coded as x1 for oil molar ratio, x2 as catalyst concentration and x3 for reaction time. The experimental fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) are compared with the predicted FAME using RSM. The optimal predicted FAME production was obtained at 92.60%. It is specified under conditions of molar ratio 4:1 mol/mol, 0.5033 wt% catalyst concentration and reaction time of 60 minutes.