Prediction and Optimization of Palm Biodiesel Characteristics Using Permittivity Properties and Response Surface Methodology

The usage of biodiesel quality monitoring system (online and batch) is always the basic requirement of its production which requires to research in this area. The purpose of this study is to predict and optimize the palm biodiesel characteristics using its permittivity properties. The parameters of biodiesel permittivity properties (ε’, dielectric constant and ε″, loss factor) at microwave frequencies of (434, 915 and 2450 MHz) were used as input variables. The palm biodiesel characteristics as fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content and flash point (FP) at three different level of reaction time (3, 9 and 27 min) and catalyst concentration (1, 1.5 and 2 % w/woil) were selected as output parameters for the models. The response surface methodology was developed for prediction and optimization of FAME content and flash point. The optimum condition was obtained using RSM by FAME content of 95.87% and flash point of 162.7 °C with desirability of 0.999.