School of Engineering :: The University of Jordan :: Modelling and optimisation of biodiesel production using waste cooking oil using the response surface methodology

School Research

Modelling and optimisation of biodiesel production using waste cooking oil using the response surface methodology

Modelling the effect of reaction time, catalyst concentration, and oil-to-methanol ratio on the waste cooking oil biodiesel was studied using response surface methodology. Biodiesel was made using three different heterogeneous catalysts. Analysis showed catalysts 2 and 3 to be significant in transesterification. However, all catalysts had second-degree significance for esterification yield. For catalysts 1 and 2 there was a clear interaction between catalyst concentration and oil-to-methanol ratio. Clear interaction was also noticed between reaction time and oil-to-methanol ratio for all catalysts. There was moderate to no interaction between the effects of time and catalyst concentrations for all catalysts. The best yield was found at lower oil-to-methanol ratios (nearly 0.02) and higher catalyst concentrations (at 10%). Reaction times close to 7 hours for catalyst 1 and close to 5 for the other catalysts were the optimum values for best yield and lowest acid value.