Biodiesel Production from Methanolysis of Lard Using CaO Catalyst Derived from Eggshell: Effects of Reaction Time and Catalyst Loading

Abstract

Biodiesel was produced from lard using a CaO catalyst derived from eggshells. The effects of catalyst loading and transesterification reaction time were investigated. The results revealed that the increase in yield of biodiesel occurred at all catalyst loading when the reaction time was increased. The optimal reaction time was obtained at 60 minutes. The results also indicated that there was an increase in yield of biodiesel when the catalyst loading was increased from 0.5% to 1%. Furthermore, increases in catalyst loading decreased biodiesel yields. The most optimum biodiesel yield of 92.69% was achieved when the reaction time, catalyst loading, methanol:oil molar ratio, reaction temperature, and pressure were 60 minutes, 1%, 6:1, 65 °C, and 1 atm, respectively. The FAME content in biodiesel product was 95.28%. The biodiesel obtained reflected a cetane number and heating value of 46.2 and 37.86 MJ/kg, respectively. Eggshell-derived CaO catalysts exhibited excellent reusability.