Optimization of Biodiesel Production Process over Solid Base Catalyst

Energy demand and its resources are increasingly day by day due to the rapid outgrowth of population and urbanization. Petroleum is a non-regenerate source of energy. The increasing price of petroleum and the environment concerns the search for alternative renewable fuels is gaining considerable attention. Biodiesel is among the most promising alternatives fuels to replace fossil fuel. In this work, biodiesel production is by transesterification of palm oil with methanol in the presence of heterogeneous catalyst which are modified KOH/MK-10 clay and MK-10 clay. This is an economic and environmental friendly reaction because the raw material and alcohol used are economical. The prepared catalyst is environmental friendly and economic because the catalyst is recyclable and very low cost. Besides that, reaction parameters of transesterification are optimized to have the highest biodiesel yield. The biodiesel yield is dependence on the reaction parameters such as molar ratio of palm oil to methanol, catalyst amount, reaction time, and reaction temperature. MK1-0 clay showed very low efficiency for biodiesel production that is 20.4% while modified KOH/MK-10 clay showed very high yield for biodiesel production process that is 70.5%. Both of the reactions using MK-10 clay and KOH/MK-10 clay catalysts achieved maximum biodiesel yield under the optimum reaction parameters such as palm oil/methanol molar ratio (1:15), reaction time (2 hours), reaction temperature (60°C), and catalyst weight (2wt%).