Study on Biodiesel Production and Characterization for Used Cooking Oil

Abstract

The increasing awareness of the depletion of fossil fuel resources and the environmental benefits of biodiesel fuel has made it more attractive in recent times. Its primary advantages deal with it being one of the most renewable fuels currently available and it is also non-toxic and biodegradable. It can also be used directly in most diesel engines without requiring extensive engine modifications. However, the cost of biodiesel is the major hurdle to its commercialization in comparison to petroleum-based diesel fuel. Biodiesel is proved to be a potential candidate for partial substitute of mineral diesel oil. The environmental issues associated with the use of fossil-based energy sources have informed the search for more sustainable energy alternatives. This work investigated the potential of producing biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO). The work gives ample evidence that oil from eateries in WCO could be used in producing high quality biodiesel in an easy, one-step transesterification reaction without the need for acid esterification which increases the overall cost of the production process.