Biodiesel Production from Waste Frying Oil via Heterogeneous Transesterification: Optimization Study.

Abstract

This study deals with development of a new composite heterogeneous catalyst, anthill-eggshell promoted Ni-Co mixed oxides (NiCoAE). The catalyst was synthesized via co-precipitation and also characterized to evaluate its properties. The as-synthesized NiCoAE catalyst was thereafter tested for transesterification reaction. The effects of variables affecting the transesterification process, reaction temperature (50-70 oC), reaction time (2-4 h), catalyst loading (3-7 wt%) and methanol to oil ratio (6:1-12:1) were investigated using central composite design (CCD). The biodiesel yield of 89.23% was obtained at the following optimum reaction conditions; 70 oC of reaction temperature, 2 h of reaction time, 3 wt% of catalyst loading and methanol to waste frying oil ratio of 12:1. This indicates that NiCoAE as heterogeneous catalyst has potential to convert high FFA feedstock into biodiesel via single step transterification process