Optimized Conversion of Waste Cooking Oil to Biodiesel Using Calcium Methoxide as Catalyst under Homogenizer System Conditions

Ming-Chien Hsiao, Shuhn-Shyurng Hou, Jui-Yang Kuo and Pei-Hsuan Hsieh
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Ming-Chien Hsiao: Department of Environmental Engineering, Kun Shan University, Tainan 71070, Taiwan
Shuhn-Shyurng Hou: Green Energy Technology Research Center, Kun Shan University, Tainan 71070, Taiwan
Jui-Yang Kuo: Department of Environmental Engineering, Kun Shan University, Tainan 71070, Taiwan
Pei-Hsuan Hsieh: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Although many types of heterogeneous catalysts have been applied to the transesterification reaction, some of them are unsuitable for industrial applications due to their high price and the extra preparation required to synthesize them. Calcium methoxide is a low cost, strong base with high catalytic activity and is thus commonly used in the biofuels synthesis process during the transesterification reaction. The objective of this study was to determine the optimized conversion in the transesterification reaction of waste cooking oil (WCO) for biodiesel production by using a homogenizer with a calcium methoxide catalyst. It was shown that the optimal reaction conditions are a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 6:1, 4 wt % Ca(OCH 3 ) 2 , a reaction temperature of 65 °C, a rotation speed of 7000 rpm, and a reaction time of 90 min. The conversion rate under these conditions reached 90.2%. Ca(OCH 3 ) 2 thus has potential as a catalyst for industrial use. In addition, with a homogenizer system, the reaction time for synthesizing calcium methoxide catalyst can be reduced by half compared to that for conventional water-bath heating. In addition, the large amount of waste water required in the oil-water separation step can be reduced by using calcium methoxide instead of a homogeneous catalyst, significantly reducing manufacturing costs.

Keywords: biodiesel; transesterification; waste cooking oil; homogenizer; calcium methoxide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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