This study outlines a process simulation for producing biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO) using Aspen HYSYS V11. A two-stage Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor (CSTR) system was designed to operate at 65 °C and 1 atm, with a methanol-to-oil molar ratio used is 6:1 along with 2 wt% KOH as a catalyst. The simulation achieved a triglyceride conversion of approximately 99%, yielding biodiesel with over 99% purity. Methanol recovery from the distillation column reached ~98%, minimizing losses. The process integrates glycerol decantation and a two-stage hot water washing unit for final purification. This setup demonstrates a practical and eco-friendly method for synthesizing biodiesel from waste-derived feedstock.
Tejas Bhurse (Thu,) studied this question.