Optimization of Biodiesel from Orange Peel using Calcium Oxide Catalyst from Limestone via In-situ Transesterification

Abstract

Biodiesel is an environmentally friendly alternative fuel to petro-diesel. In-situ transesterification method is an easy method for biodiesel production where the oil was simultaneously extracted and transesterified into biodiesel in one single process. This study was carried out to study the optimization of Biodiesel synthesis from orange peel using Calcium Oxide from Limestone Methanol used was used as the alcohol in the process as it is widely accessible and economically viable. Reaction temperature, catalyst loading, time, and methanol to orange peel ratio were varied from 50 to 120˚C, 0.5 to 5 wt %, 40 to 60 minutes, and 3:1 to 12:1 respectively. The process parameters considered for the optimization study of the in-situ transesterification reaction resulted in an optimum biodiesel yield of 70% which was observed at the condition of 85˚C, 2.75 wt % catalyst, 100 minutes and 16.5:1 methanol to orange peel ratio. It was observed that a close correlation exists between the experimental and predicted results as confirmed by the validation experiment and the square of the correlation coefficient (R2) for the in-situ transesterification reaction was estimated to be 0.9124.