Production of Biodiesel from Waste Cooking Oil with Ultrasonic Irradiation Method as Renewable Energy Source

Biodiesel is an alternative product, as a substitute fuel from fossil sources. Biodiesel is produced from the transesterification reaction between alcohol (methanol and ethanol) and triglycerides, the byproduct produced is glycerol. The advantages of biodiesel compared to fossil fuels are low emission levels, non-toxic, renewable and biodegradable. By conventional methods, to produce biodiesel that uses mechanical stirrings that cost a lot with electric bills because the transesterification reaction takes more than an hour to complete the reaction. An alternative method for producing biodiesel by saving the use of power and time resources with ultrasonic irradiation. The ultrasonic irradiation method has been widely used in the transesterification process of making biodiesel which increases mass transfer between alcohol and triglycerides. The use of a catalyst is required in the transesterification reaction because it will accelerate the reaction and the product eligible from Indonesian National Standar Agency 04-7182-2006.