Analysis of the Parameters Affecting on the Performance and Energy Efficiency of Biodiesel Production from Waste Oil

The steady increase in energy demand and the depletion of crude oil resources have led to the search for renewable and sustainable fuels. Biodiesel is the best alternative to diesel because it is environmentally friendly. Biodiesel is typically produced by the transesterification method. In this study, energy efficiency and the effect of reaction time and temperature as well as the molar ratio of methanol to oil on biodiesel production from waste oil were investigated.

In this study, the energy of inputs such as manpower, edible oil waste, alcohol (methanol), catalyst (KOH), electricity and energy of biodiesel production machine and energy output including: biodiesel, glycerol, alcohol additives, water, soap, mono-glyceride and Diglyceride was calculated to calculate energy efficiency. Also, to calculate the yield, the weight of fatty acid esters and triglycerides of waste oil from the reaction was measured.

The results of this study showed that these three parameters of reaction time and temperature as well as the molar ratio of methanol to oil affected the performance of the transesterification reaction by the conventional method. The molar ratio of methanol to oil was 6: 1, the reaction time was 60 minutes and the reaction temperature was 60 ° C with 95% conversion of triglycerides to fatty acid esters.