Biodiesel production from edible and non-edible biomasses and its characterization

Abstract

Biodiesel is considered one of the most viable renewable alternatives to its petroleum-derived counterpart. It can be produced from various sources, mainly via homogeneously alkali-catalyzed transesterification. Nevertheless, as the demand for edible oils grew for food and fuel, non-edible oils emerged as a more appealing choice for producing biodiesel. Waste cooking oils (WCOs) comprise an alternative and low-cost feedstock that are produced in vast quantities and can be used for biodiesel production. This study compares biodiesel properties produced by an uncooked sunflower oil obtained from a local bio-industry and a WCO sample collected from a fast food shop. Results showed that most biodiesel samples’ properties in both cases met the EN 14214 specifications. GC-MS chromatographs were similar in terms of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) composition. However, oxidation stability for both biodiesel samples and viscosity for the WCO biodiesel sample were out of specifications. Further investigation is required to improve biodiesel properties and optimize production conditions.