Structural and compositional evaluation of waste cooking oil algal oil biodiesel using FTIR and GC-FID for improved fuel properties

Abstract

Energy demand and need for sustainable sources for fuel production have resulted in the development of alternative fuel technologies. Waste cooking oil (WCO) and algal oil (AO) extracted from Chlorella variabilis have been transesterified to yield WCO biodiesel (WCOBD) and AO biodiesel (AOBD). The present study aims to produce biodiesel by blending optimised proportion (1.25%) of AO with WCO to get 1.25AO-WCO for making biodiesel with improved properties. The reaction conditions for transesterification of 1.25AO-WCO were augmented by response surface methodology tool to attain supreme fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield of 98%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of 1.25AO-WCO BD were performed to prove the production of biodiesel and their FAME profile is determined using gas chromatography with flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). Properties of 1.25AO-WCO BD were determined for 1.25AO-WCO BD and observed to meet ASTM standards apart from exhibiting better properties than biodiesel made from 100% WCO.