Optimization of Process Parameters for Biodiesel Production Using Response Surface Methodology

The effect of five process parameters namely: reaction time, reaction temperature, stir speed, catalyst concentration and methanol-oil ratio on the transesterification process of waste frying oil to biodiesel were investigated. Optimization of the five process parameters and their quadratic cross effect was carried out using a four level-five factor central composite experimental design model and response surface methodology with each factor varied over four levels. Taking the biodiesel yield as the response of the designed experiment, the data obtained were statistically analysed to get a suitable model for optimization of biodiesel yield as a function of the five independent process parameters. The optimization produced 30 feasible solutions whose desirability equals to 1 and the selected (most desirable) condition was found to be: reaction time (3 hrs), reaction temperature (58°C), stir speed (305.5 rpm), catalyst concentration (1.4 wt%) and methanol to oil ratio (6:1), while the optimum yield of biodiesel for this condition was found to be 91.6%. The developed model was tested and validated for adequacy by substituting random experimental values as input parameters and the output parameters from the developed model were close to the experimental values. The biodiesel properties were characterized and the results obtained were found to satisfy the standard for both the ASTM D 6751 and EN 14214.

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