PRODUCTION AND OPTIMIZATION OF BIODIESEL FROM PALM FATTY ACID DISTILLATE AND OLEIC ACID USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY APPROACH.

Abstract

In this study, a mixed feed of Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD)/ oleic acid was used to produced biodiesel catalyzed by sulfonated carbon. The effect of three process variables i.e. methanol - to –PFAD/oleic acid molar ratio, catalyst loading and reaction time on the yield of biodiesel produced was studied using response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD). Optimum reaction conditions were obtained at 1:7 methanol- to-PFAD/oleic acid molar ratio, 15 wt.% catalyst loading and 5h reaction time. The predicted biodiesel yield was 96% under the optimal conditions. From the results obtained, it can be deduced that PFAD/ oleic acid has a high potential as an inedible feedstock to produce low cost biodiesel, and the method may be useful for industrial process optimization.