International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 10, Number 19 (2015)

Research India Publications ::: http://www.ripublication.com

Biodiesel Production From Waste Palm Oil By Transesterification Process

Joses Jenish Smart1, S. Antony Raja2, C. Lindon Robert Lee, D. S. Robinson Smart4
1
Student, Mechanical, Karunya University, Coimbatore, 641114, Tamilnadu, India
2
Associate Professor, Mechanical, Karunya University, Coimbatore, 641114, Tamilnadu, India
Assistant Professor, Mechanical, Karunya University, Coimbatore, 641114, Tamilnadu, India
4
Professor, Mechanical, Karunya University, Coimbatore, 641114, Tamilnadu, India

ABSTRACT
Biodiesel is a cleaner burning diesel replacement

presence of a catalyst. Glycerin is a significant and

fuel processed from natural, renewable derived

valuable co-product in its production. Justifications

from biological sources such as oil and animal

for the use of this biofuel include the fact that it can

fat. Conversion of waste palm oil to fuel is one

be used in any diesel engine without requiring

way to reduce environment pollution and health

major adjustments and its low impact on engine

hazards. Palm oil can be changed to biofuel

performance as well as the reduction in emission of

through several ways; the simplest and most

atmospheric pollutants leading to lower impact on

widely used process is transesterification. Waste

global warming. The cost factor that hinders the

palm oil is chosen to be the feedstock in order to

commercial use of plant oil-based fuels can be

reduce

lowered by selecting waste palm oil as feedstock

the

cost

of

feedstock

used.

The

that has the lowest price and is available readily.

transesterification of waste cooking oil with

short-chain alcohols, in the presence of base

II. MATERIALS

catalyst and methanol as solvent, by means of

single step batch transesterification process in

(a) Waste cooking palm oil

order to obtain biodiesel fuel is studied. This

report

determined

transesterification

reaction

the

The waste cooking palm oil is generated

optimal

conditions

from the fried food, which need large amounts of

that

oil because it requires the full immersion of food at

produce the maximum biodiesel yield. To obtain

temperatures greater than 180C. Accordingly to

a high quality biodiesel fuel that comply the

the high temperatures are generated changes in its

specification of standard methods (ASTM D

chemical and physical composition, as well as in its

6751 & EN 14214), some important variables

properties which affect both the food and oil

such as volumetric ratio, types of reactants and

quality. In an alkali catalyzed process is reached

catalytic activities were selected.

high purity and high yields in short periods of time

ranging between 30 - 60 minutes.

I. INTRODUCTION

(b) Chemicals such as Sodium hydroxide,

Potassium hydroxide, Methanol.

Among biofuels, biodiesel is one of the possible

alternatives to Petroleum. Biodiesel is produced

III. METHODS

through a transesterification reaction of a natural

(i)
(ii)

oil triglyceride with a short chain alcohol in the

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Base-Catalysed Process
Transesterification

International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 10, Number 19 (2015)
Research India Publications ::: http://www.ripublication.com

The

transesterification reaction performed

at

Volumetric

ratio

(oil/

methanol)

4:1,3:1,1:3,1:4,1:6

different volumetric ratio of oil to methanol,

varying from 4:1, 3:1, 1:3, 1:4 and 1:6 at 52C and

Biodiesel yield

350 rpm. The reaction time was kept constant at 8

hours for all experiments. Two types of catalysts

The effect of different methanol to oil molar ratios

have been used NaOH and KOH and the amount

on biodiesel yields was investigated. The highest

used is found out by titration process. After

transesterification

reaction

the

biodiesel

lowest biodiesel yield obtaining ratio is will be

was

found out at different methanol to oil volumetric

separated from glycerol using separating funnel and

ratio. In this study transesterification of waste

finally washing. Several basic variables, namely,

cooking oil was catalyzed by using alkaline-

catalyst type and concentration, methanol to oil

catalyst,

ratio transesterification were investigated as they

play

significant

production.

Several

difference
basic

in

variables,

sodium

hydroxide

and

potassium

hydroxide and the difference in the yield due to this

biodiesel

catalyst is also studied.

namely,

catalyst type and concentration, methanol to oil

Properties of biodiesel

ratio of transesterification were investigated as they

play a significant difference in biodiesel produced.

Both waste palm oils and biodiesel properties such

Fig 1 shows the layout of the experimental setup.

as viscosity, density, calorific value, carbon

residue, flash point, fire point etc where found out
to determine the biodiesel obtained can be used as
fuel in diesel engine. Fuel properties analysis was
carried

out

according

to

ASTM

Biodiesel

Standards.
V. METHODOLOGY
TRANSESTERIFICATION
Transesterification involves replacement of alcohol
Fig 1 Layout of experimental setup

molecules

from an ester

by other

alcohol

molecules, and glycerin were produced as a by-

IV. Features

product of this reaction. This process is similar to

Experimental conditions

hydrolysis, except that alcohol is employed instead

Fixed parameters

of water. The stoichiometry of this reaction shows

Oil used waste palm oil

that 3 moles of alcohol reacted with 1 mole of

Alcohol used methanol

triglyceride to give 3 moles of fatty acid ester and 1

Stirring speed -350 rpm

mole

Temperature-52 C

The

reaction

rate

of

catalysts. Fig 2 shows the transesterification

Catalyst used potassium hydroxide,

process

sodium hydroxide

glycerin.

transesterification could be accelerated by using

Variable parameter

of

Concentration of catalyst

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International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 10, Number 19 (2015)
Research India Publications ::: http://www.ripublication.com

Heating and Mixing

The catalyst solution prepared is mixed with oil.
The residue is heated after which it is mixed well
using a stirrer at 350 rpm. Continue mixing the
contents. Carefully pour the catalyst solution and
shake vigorously for 15 minutes.
Fig 2 Transesterification process

Settling and Separation

The following are the steps required for the

After mixing the liquid, it is allowed to cool down.

production of Bio Diesel:

After the cooling process, the bio fuel is found

floating on the top while the heavier glycerin is
Filtration

found at the bottom. The glycerin is easily

separated by allowing it to drain out from the

In this process, the waste vegetable oil is filtered to

bottom. In this way pure Bio Diesel is prepared.

remove all the food particles. This process

Allow the glycerin to settle. Settle the mixture may

generally involves warming up the liquid a little.

take 8 hrs. The successful chemical reaction

After warming up the liquid, it is filtered with the

between the oil, alcohol, and the catalyst will have

use of a cotton cloth.

broken down the oil into several layers. The top

layer will be biodiesel, chemically called an Ester,

Titration

the next layer may contain soap, and the bottom

This process is carried out to determine the amount

layer will be glycerin.

of catalyst that would be required. This process is

the most crucial and the most important stage of

Washing

Bio- Diesel manufacturing Titration method for

to

Biodiesel and glycerin will separate due to density

neutralize the fatty acids in the waste palm oil. The

difference. Glycerin and unreacted catalyst will

titration is carried out by dissolving 1 gram of

sink to the bottom and can be easily drained .After

catalyst in 1 liter of distilled water and dissolves 1

separation of biodiesel it must be washed with hot

ml of waste palm oil into 10 ml isopropyl alcohol.

water to remove unreacted methanol and catalyst.

determining

how

much

catalyst

needed

With an eyedropper set the ph of waste oil to 8-9

by adding catalyst one milliliter at a time we can

VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

find an eventual rise in ph level. Record the

Effect of volumetric ratio on biodiesel yield

quantity of catalyst solution added until the color of

Methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and amyl

the oil changes pink and holds for at least 5

alcohol can be used in the transesterification

seconds.

reaction, amongst these alcohols methanol is

applied more frequently as its cost is low and it is

Preparation of catalyst solution

Carefully pour the catalyst solution into
methanol. Agitate the mixture until the catalyst is
completely dissolved in the methanol.

physically and chemically advantageous over the

other alcohols. The effect of volumetric ratio of

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International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 10, Number 19 (2015)
Research India Publications ::: http://www.ripublication.com

methanol to oil when KOH and NaOH catalyst was

used. The maximum yield of biodiesel is obtained

studied.

when 1:6 oil/methanol molar ratio and NaOH is

used as catalyst. This because amount of glycerine
residue formed is less when NaOH catalyst is used.

Effect of types of catalyst on biodiesel yields

Further study such as effect of catalyst on biodiesel

yield is done; transesterification reaction carried
out using potassium hydroxide resulted in higher
soap formation compared to that using sodium
hydroxide. The percentage of biodiesel yield is
90.86% when KOH is used and 93.53% when
Table 1 Yield of biodiesel at different volumetric
ratio (KOH)

NaOH is used as catalyst. The amount of glycerin

residue formed is high when KOH catalyst is used

Results exhibit that highest biodiesel yield is 97.9%

this result in reduction of biodiesel yield

at 1:6 oil/methanol ratio and lowest yield is 82.85%

at 4:1 oil/methanol ratio, when KOH is catalyst
(Table

1).

In

comparison,

biodiesel

COMPARISON

yield

OF

PROPERTIES

OF

BIODIESEL WITH WASTE COOKING OIL

continuously increases with the raise of methanol

AND DIESEL

molar ratio.

Table 2 Yield of biodiesel at different volumetric

ratio (NaOH)
Results exhibit that highest biodiesel yield is
99.28% at 1:6 oil/methanol ratio and lowest yield is
86.42% at 4:1 oil/methanol ratio, when NaOH is
catalyst (Table 2). In comparison, biodiesel yield
continuously increases with the raise of methanol
molar ratio.

The above table shows the comparison of

The highest biodiesel yield is nearly 97.9% at 1:6

properties of biodiesel obtained from waste palm

oil/methanol ratio when KOH catalyst is used and

oil with waste cooking oil and diesel. The main

99.28% at 1:6 oil/methanol ratio when NaOH is

obstacle to use the oil as fuel is its high viscosity

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International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 10, Number 19 (2015)
Research India Publications ::: http://www.ripublication.com

which creates problems in atomization of the fuel

which considered as renewable energy and

spray and operation of the fuel injectors. The

environmental recycling process from waste oil

obtained biodiesel from waste palm oil through

after frying. The study determined the volumetric

transesterification process have lower viscosity of

ratio and catalyst activities in transesterification

5.3 mm/s which is within the biodiesel standards.

process. Result shows that optimal condition of

The acid values expose the low amount of free fatty

waste cooking palm oil, for biodiesel productions

acids (FFA) in both types of oils. The increase on

are 1:6 volumetric oil-to-methanol molar ratio,

acid value will lead to corrosion of the engine

NaOH catalyst and at 52C

cylinder walls. The acid value of waste palm oil is

percentage of biodiesel yield is 90.86% when KOH

significantly higher than biodiesel which is a

is used and 93.53% when NaOH is used as catalyst.

barrier for using cooking oil as an alternative fuel

So for production of large quantity of biodiesel

in diesel engine. Result shows that the acid value is

production NaOH is preferred when comparing

greatly reduced in case of biodiesel.

with KOH. The properties of the biodiesel such as

When comparing the properties biodiesel has the

viscosity, density, carbon residue, calorific value,

least carbon residue value. Calorific value is the

flash point, fire point, acid value are analyzed and

quantity of heat liberated by the complete

the result is compared with the properties of waste

combustion of a unit of fuel. The calorific value of

palm oil and diesel fuel. The comparison shows

biodiesel is higher than the waste palm oil and is

that the properties of biodiesel is improved when

within the standards. The flash point of petrol

compared to waste palm oil and is within the

diesel fuel is only about half the value of those for

standards. Biodiesel from used cooking palm oil

biodiesels, which therefore represents an important

could be used as fuel in engines which is

safety asset for biodiesel. The flash point of pure

considered as renewable energy and environmental

biodiesels

recycling process from waste oil after frying.

is

considerably

higher

than

the

temperature. The

prescribed limits, but can decrease rapidly with

increasing amount of residual alcohol. As these two

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VII. CONCLUSIONS

The optimum conditions for biodiesel production

from waste cooking palm oil are studied. This
study will provide evidence that waste cooking
palm oil may be employed as a substantial source
of biodiesel as fuel in diesel engines. This project
will help to in produce biodiesel from used cooking
palm oil which could be used as diesel substitute

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International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 10, Number 19 (2015)
Research India Publications ::: http://www.ripublication.com

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