Biodiesel Production from Waste Oils Mixed with Animal Tallows and Vegetable Oil by Transesterification Using Ultrasonic Irradiation

Transesterifications of waste oils mixed with animal tallows and vegetable oil by ultrasonic energy were examined over various catalysts for biodiesel production. Reaction activities of the transesterification were evaluated to the ultrasonic energy and thermal energy. The physicochemical properties of feedstock and products were also investigated to the biodiesels produced from the oils in the reaction using ultrasonic energy. The highest fatly acid methyl ester (FAME) yield was obtained on the potassium hydroxide catalyst in the transesterification by ultrasonic irradiation. The effective reaction conditions by ultrasonic energy were 0.5 wt% catalyst loading and 6:1 molar ratio of methanol to the mixed oils. The reaction rate of the transesterification by ultrasonic energy was faster than that by thermal energy. The highest yields of FAME were obtained as 80% in 5 min and the reaction equilibrium reached at that time.