DETERMINATION OF OPTIMAL METHANOL: OIL VOLUME RATIO FOR MAXIMUM BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM WASTE COOKING OIL

Richard C. Ehiri

Department of Industrial Chemistry

 Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria

E-mail: richcee2003@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

In this work, biodiesel was produced via base-catalyzed transesterification reaction of waste cooking oil (WCO) with methanol so as to determine optimal alcohol: oil volume ratio for maximum biodiesel production. The catalyst used was2.0% sodium hydroxide. The methanol: oil volume ratio fed into the batch-process reactor were taken at 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, … 10:1 in order to produce biodiesel while keeping other variable factors constant.  Results show that the optimal methyl ester yield of 95.0% occurred at methanol: oil volume ratio of 8:1. Seven fatty acids were identified in the WCO sample while nine fatty acid methyl esters were found in the biodiesel product. Furthermore, the product met the ASTM fuel standards for relative density, refractive index, viscosity, flash point and cetane index.

Keywords: Biodiesel; Methanol: Oil Volume Ratio; Waste Cooking Oil.