Author(s): A.B.M. Sharif Hosain and A. Nasrulhaq Boyce
Article publication date: 2009-06-01
Vol. 27 No. 1/2 (yearly), pp. 33-38.
165
Keywords
Biodiesel, transesterification, palm oil, waste cooking oil.
Abstract
Comparison of the optimum conditions for biodiesel production from pure palm
cooking oil (PPCO) and waste palm cooking oil (WPCO) through transesterification process
using alkaline catalysts was studied. Some important variables such as volumetric ratio and types
of reactants, catalytic activities were selected to obtain a high quality biodiesel fuel that comply
with the specification of standard methods (ASTM D 6751 and EN 14214). The highest yield of
approximately 99% was acquired under optimum conditions of 1:6 volumetric oil-to-methanol molar
ratio, 1% KOH catalyst, 40°C reaction temperature, and 320 rpm stirring speed. Results showed that
the production of biodiesel from PPCO and WPCO was exhibited no considerable differences. The
research demonstrated that biodiesel obtained under optimum conditions from PPCO and WPCO
was of good quality and could be used as a diesel fuel. Waste cooking palm oil after frying could be
used as recycled material for waste management to produce renewable energy.