BIODIESEL FROM USED COOKING OIL VIA CALCIUM OXIDE LOADED ACTIVATED CARBON CATALYZED TRANSESTRIFICATION REACTION

Abstract

Abstract In this study, biodiesel was produced from the used cooking oil using a two-step catalyzed transesterification reaction. A calcined Calcium oxide activated carbon (CaO/AC) impregnation method serve as the composite catalyst. The CaO/AC and corresponding fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) were characterized by FTIR and XRD and for identification of functional groups, crystal structure of catalyst and basicity nature of the catalyst. Esterification and tranesterification processes were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). Under optimal conditions of methanol to oil ratio for 20:1 at reaction temperature of 333K, catalyst loading of 0.3 mg and reaction time of 40 min. The optimal conversion of 92.7% was recorded for the transestrification of used cooking oil and CaO/AC as catalyst. The Physico-chemical analyses carried out on the produced biodiesel gave strong indication that it can serve as an alternative feedstock, having recorded a comparable flash point of 102 °C to American Society of Testing Materials and European Committee for Standardization standards. The acid value of the used cooking oil was (4.09), specific gravity was (0.9711 g/cm3) kinematic viscosity was found to be (9.5mm/s) and the PH was also found to be (8.52). These values indicates that the used cooking oil can be very useful of high yield with zero effect on the environment.

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