Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil Using Nano Calcium Oxide Catalyst

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 175 - 183
• Main Authors: Tayeb, Aghareed M., Abdel-Hamid, Shereen M. S., Osman, Randa M., Farouk, Sabah Mohamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frankfurt Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Biodiesel; Biodiesel fuels; Calcium oxide; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Catalytic converters; Characterization; Cooking; Esters; Lime; Modeling; Nanocatalysts; Response surface methodology; Surface stability; Thermal stability; Transesterification; Triglycerides; Waste cooking oil
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.202300238

The use of nano calcium oxide as a catalyst in biodiesel production has gained attention due to its high catalytic activity, low cost, and environmental friendliness. It efficiently converts triglycerides to fatty acids and methyl esters. In the present study, nano CaO was prepared by precipitation and characterized by various techniques. The results showed that the nano CaO has high purity, nanoscale crystal size, good thermal stability, and high specific surface area. Biodiesel was produced by transesterification from waste cooking oil, methanol, and the nano catalyst. Response surface methodology was applied to predict the optimum parameters for the production of the biodiesel based on its yield. The produced biodiesel was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and GC‐MS and evaluated according to ASTM D6571.
Biodiesel is an alternative to fossil diesel fuel derived from sustainable biological resources. Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil and methanol in the presence of a nanosized CaO catalyst was studied. Transesterification was performed at different times, temperatures, and methanol/oil ratios, and response surface methodology was used to predict optimum parameters for biodiesel production.