CHARACTERIZATION OF FATTY ACID ETHYL ESTER BIODIESEL (CWO100) PRODUCED FROM COMPOSITE WASTE OILS, ETHANOL AND KOH

Abstract

There is an urgent need to convert Composite waste oils (CWOs) from domestic and industrial sources using circular system thinking approach due to the growing concern of their socio-economic, environmental and governance effects and impacts of increased human anthropogenic activities. CWO was first pre-treated by sieving, heated to reduce moisture/water concentration and the acid value lowered with the addition of sufficient KOH, then base transesterification reaction with ethanol (1:1), 1% KOH at 700C for 2 h. The physio-chemical and fuel properties of the CWO100 was analyzed using standard analytical methods, and the data statistically using SPSS version 20.0. CWO100 (FAEE) has lowest value of water and sediment, acid value, free fatty acid, carbon residue and sulphur, and the highest values for viscosity, specific gravity, density, colour, flash point, iodine. Most of its parameters are within the ASTM/EN standards except in CWOs that requires pre-treatment. CWO100 is better than petroleum diesel and can be applied in diesel engines, plants with little or no modification as a major alternative now and thereafter.