Optimization of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil

Abstract

ABSTRACT The sequences of development that cut across industrialization, population growth, environmental and economic reasons led individuals and organizations to have direct responsibilities in the development and implementation of sound technologies that will curtail the emissions of hazardous gases and particulate matter. As a result, this study focuses on the optimization and characterization of biodiesel from waste cooking oil. It involves the characterization of the feed stock, the transesterification, the purification of the transesterified waste cooking oil, the optimization of the biodiesel produced using 24 factorial experimental designs, and the characterization of the biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil. Result obtained reveals that operating temperature of 30°C, transesterification time of 60 min, catalyst weight of 0.5%, and alcohol to oil ratio of 6:1 are the optimum conditions with optimum yield of 90% of biodiesel from waste cooking oil. Experimental determinations of some useful properties of the biodiesel produced were carried out for the purpose of confirming the quality as well as the identification of the biofuel. These were moisture content, specific gravity, viscosity, acid value, sulfated ash, cetane number, cloud point, flash point, distillation characteristic, and refractive index. The results obtained were 0.097%, 0.854, 4.90 mm2/s, 0.80 mgKOH/g, 0.01%, 48.00, 53°F, 143°C, 320°C, and 1.412, respectively. The results obtained showed that all the parameters compare favorably with literatures and the standard biodiesel specifications; hence production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil is possible.