Optimization of Process Parameters for Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil using DOE Techniques

Abstract

In the current study the process parameters for used cooking oil biodiesel production are optimized by using Design of Experiments (Taguchi technique) and validation experiments are carried out at the optimized parameters to cross verify the results obtained. A specially designed equipment which can maintain the exact conditions required for optimization is used. This equipment is microcontroller operated and does not require any human intervention to maintain the accurate temperature, time and other parameters. By Taguchi strategy best yield acquired is by Molar ratio of A2 (1:9), Catalyst concentration of B3 (1.00%), Reaction temperature of C2 (60ºC), Reaction time of D3 (120 min). The approval trial was completed for the results and the yield is observed to be 93.25%, which resulted in improvement of up to 15% yield as compared to that of crude method. The properties of acquired biodiesel are found out and it very well may be inferred that the properties of got biodiesel are within ASTM norms.