Synthesis of Biodisiel from Used Cooking Oils Catalyzed by Solid Acid

Abstract

The synthesis of biodiesel expressed as fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) were studied to achieve an economic and practical method for utilization of used cooking oil (UCO). UCO samples with the acid value of more than 80 mgKOH/g mixed with methanol were heterogeneously catalyzed by solid aminosulfonic acid under some conditions . The conversion of UCO into FAME was 86.0% at the reaction time of 2 hours, mole ratio of methanol to UCO of 5:1, showing much higher catalyzed activity of solid aminosulfonic acid. the samples of FAME prepared from UCO was analyzed by GC/MS and the results showes that the majority of biodiesel has fatty acid methyl esters of carbon lengths from C14–C24, with an average of C18 methyl ester.