Methanolysis of Low FFA Waste Vegetable Oil using Homogeneous Base Catalyst for Biodiesel Production: New Process Design

Abstract

Biodiesel is an alternative liquid biofuel consists of a mixture of methyl or ethyl esters. It can be produced through transesterification where low molecular weight alcohol (e.g. methanol or ethanol) reacts with lipid or fat (triglyceride) to produce biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester FAME) and glycerol as a valuable byproduct. The most common method of biodiesel production is base catalyzed transesterification where alkaline material such as potassium hydroxide is used as a catalyst. This paper presents a suggested new process design of a biodiesel plant that treats about 24 tons/ day of low free fatty acids, FFA, waste vegetable oil and WVO.