Optimization of reactant and catalyst for the production of biodiesel

This paper is focused on determination of optimum conditions of the reactant and catalyst required for the production of biodiesel. The demand for petroleum is increasing with each passing day. This may be attributed to the limited resources of petroleum crude. In that case it becomes utmost necessity to search for alternate fuels which are renewable and in that biodiesel emerges a real solution. Biodiesel is a cleaner burning fuel than diesel and act as suitable alternate fuel. It is made from non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable resources. In this study biodiesel was produced by Transesterification process from edible oil. In transesterification process alcohol group from an ester is replaced by another alcohol. In this report, the reaction was carried out with palm oil by varying parameters such as composition of methanol, catalyst and temperature. The production of biodiesel was also done with Gingili oil and waste mixture oil under optimum condition. The yield percentage of biodiesel from palm oil, gingili oil and waste mixture oil were found to be 76.6%, 75% and 55% respectively. Production of biodiesel with 3% of alcohol, 0.25 % of catalyst under 40-70°C is found to be an optimum condition for economical production.