Synthesis of Biodiesel from Biowaste/Vegetable Oil by Using Heterogeneous Nano-Catalyst

Abstract

This paper presents preparation of heterogeneous nanocatalyst (NaOH/ZnO-Li₂CO₃) for biodiesel synthesis from biowaste/vegetable oil by transesterification. Transesterification is an important reaction that produces fatty acid methyl esters which are excellent substitutes for diesel fuel. Biodiesel production by using nanocatalyst is one of important approaches in the biofuel research. The optimization of transesterification reaction is affected by the catalyst type, reaction temperature, reaction time, methanol to biowaste/oil ratio. The analysis of biodiesel is done by physiochemical analysis, FTIR-ATR analysis, UV-Visible analysis, GC-MS analysis and characterization of biodiesel by physical properties. The results were confirmed by ASTM D 6751 and petrodiesel D 0975 that the biodiesel can be used industrially as an alternative to diesel.

Keywords: Heterogeneous, transesterification, biowaste, vegetable oil, biodiesel