THE EFFECT OF CATALYST PHASE ON BIODIESEL PRODUCTION (A REVIEW)

^{1 *}Akhihiero E.T.  ²*Aluyor E.O. ³* Audu T.O.K

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

E mail: ejiroakhihiero@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Biodiesel is the monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from a renewable lipid feedstock such as vegetable oil or animal fat. Biodiesel production is done by transesterification of the vegetable oil or animal fat. Transesterification reaction of vegetable oil or animal fat with alcohol is an equilibrium reaction and therefore requires the use of a catalyst to shift equilibrium to the right. Catalyst used in transesterification reactions can either be homogeneous or heterogeneous. In this paper the effects of the type of catalyst used on the quality and cost of biodiesel is reviewed.Advantages and disadvantages of using either a homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production are also highlighted.