Optimization Process for Biodiesel Production From Waste Cooking of Vegetable Oil by Microwave Irradiation

Abstract

Biodiesel is the main alternative to diesel fuel today. The waste cooking vegetable oil can be used as a basic material in its preparation. Microwave irradiation is used in its production and it is considered one of the effective methods that do not consume much power. In this study, biodiesel is produce and determine the factors affecting the quality and quantity of production also investigated using experimental design technique. The effecting of operating variables power, time, and oil-to-ethanol molar ratio were studied, as well as the effect of interaction between operating variables on the quality of production. The optimum conditions that have been found are; the power that the microwave operates is 480 watts, the reaction time is 3.5 minutes, and the oil-to-ethanol molar ratio is 1:5. The maximum production is 91.63% at these optimum conditions. Also, the biodiesel production is testing which include physical properties specific gravity, kinematic viscosity, water content, cloud point, pour point, and flash point and it was in good agreement with standard diesel fuel.