Effect Of Reaction Temperature On The Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Of Biodiesel Produced From Waste Cooking Oil Using A Heterogenous Catalyst

Abstract

The increasing demand for energy and the consequent fossil fuel reserves has led to the search for alternative fuels which are renewable and sustainable. Biodiesel a renewable fuel has proven to be a suitable alternative in combustion engine compared to the petro-diesel because of its biodegradability and smoother combustibility. Transesterification of waste cooking oil to biodiesel was carried out with methanol to oil molar ratio of 8:1 using activated carbon from coconut shell as catalyst. The temperature of the reaction was varied. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) of the biodiesel produced were determined at reaction temperatures of 40⁰C, 50⁰C and 60⁰C,while biodiesel properties produced at 40⁰C, 45⁰C, 50⁰C, 55⁰C and 60⁰C were also determined. The concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbon for biodiesel at temperatures of 40⁰C, 50⁰C and 60⁰C were 1652.65, 9629.803 and 9608.752 respectively. Total petroleum hydrocarbon explains the nature of the oil used in the transesterification and hence the quality of the biodiesel produced. Higher temperature above 50⁰C does not favor the presence of some hydrocarbon in the fuel produced. The properties of the biodiesel produced conform to ASTMD 6751.