Optimization of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using static mixer technology in Vietnam

Abstract

Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil (WCO) was first performed in a static mixer reactor using sodium hydroxide as a catalyst in Vietnam. The influence of three parameters (methanol-to-oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration and reaction temperature) on fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) production was investigated. The optimization was determined by response surface methodology (RSM) and the interaction of these parameters was described by a quadratic model. The results revealed that catalyst concentration had the greatest influence in FAME yield among the investigated conditions. The highest content of FAME was achieved up to 97.8 wt% at the optimized conditions (methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 6, reaction temperature of 60°C, and 1.0 wt% of catalyst). In addition, the obtained biodiesel product fulfilled the European and Vietnamese biodiesel standards.