Biodiesel production using waste cooking oil: a waste to energy conversion strategy

In this study, biodiesel was produced using waste cooking oil that was discarded as a waste in the environment. The properties of the feedstock were determined using standard ASTM methods. The transesterification process was implemented to extract the biodiesel, and this process was optimized and standardized by selecting three different parameters: molar ratio (methanol: oil), catalyst concentration (KOH) and reaction temperature. The physicochemical properties of the biodiesel so produced were tested and analyzed using gas chromatography. Biodiesel and diesel were mixed in different volumetric ratios, and the exhaust emission characteristics of the blends were determined by testing the blends on a variable compression ratio engine. The study concluded that waste cooking oil has a great potential for waste to energy process. The highest yield of 93.8% was obtained by optimizing the process. Emission characteristics of CO for B50 blend showed a downward trend while NOx emission was found to be greater for blending ratios above 10%. B10 showed the best results pertaining to lower NOx and CO emissions.