Production of the Lowest Viscosity Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel by Using Ethanol and Potassium Hydroxide

Abstract

In this study, optimum reaction parameters were determined to produce the lowest kinematic viscosity waste cooking oil biodiesel by using ethyl alcohol as alcohol and potassium hydroxide as catalyst by means of transesterification reaction. Reaction parameters, which influence the transesterification such as catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time and ethyl alcohol/oil molar ratio, were varied within the ranges of 0.5-1.75%, 60-90 C, 60-150 minute and 6:1-15:1, respectively, and then the effects of these parametric changes on kinematic viscosities of produced biodiesels were investigated. According to results, reaction parameters giving the lowest kinematic viscosity of 4.380 cSt were determined as %1.00 catalyst concentration, 70 C reaction temperature, 120 minutes reaction time and 12:1 ethyl alcohol/oil molar ratio.