The Production of Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel by Non-Catalytic Methods

Abstract The escalating demand for sustainable and eco-friendly energy sources has intensified the exploration of alternative fuels, among which biodiesel stands out as a promising candidate. This research delves into the synthesis of biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO) through a non-catalytic transesterification process. WCO, abundant and inexpensive, serves as a viable feedstock, contributing to both environmental sustainability and economic feasibility. The non-catalytic transesterification method, chosen for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, involves the reaction of WCO with methanol in the absence of a catalyst. The process parameters, including temperature and methanol-to-oil ratio, are systematically optimized to enhance biodiesel yield and quality. The research was carried out with varying molar ratios of 160, 170, and 180 for the comparison of methanol and used cooking oil. The method used in this research is a non-catalytic batch system method that entails a transesterification reaction, WCO is reacted with methanol to produce biodiesel. 200 mL of WCO into the BCR (Bubble Column Reactor), then set the temperature on heater one to 70 °C, heater two to 170 °C, and heater three to 150 °C. Additionally, the study evaluates the physicochemical characteristics of the produced biodiesel, encompassing parameters like kinematic viscosity, density, and cetane number, to ensure compliance with the standard to the Decree of the Director General of EBTKE No. 195.K/EK.05/DJE/2022 to determine the characteristics of biodiesel. The test results showed that the highest biodiesel yield from used cooking oil was obtained at a molar ratio of 160, 51%. Characteristic testing shows that variations in molar ratios of 160, 170, and 180 for density (at a temperature of 40 °C), kinematic viscosity (at a temperature of 40 °C), and cetane number have met the specified requirements