Abstract:
Utilization of palm kernel ash as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production from used vegetable oil was comparatively investigated at various conditions like methanol to oil ratio, percentage of catalyst used, ash ignited temperature and time, etc. All experiments were operated at 65 OC for 1 hour using 200 grams of vegetable oil feedstock for each experiment. The study found that the kernel ash ignited at 900 OC for 4 hours exhibited better biodiesel yield and quality than the ash ignited at 800 OC 4 hours. Moreover, an optimum condition for the biodiesel production from used vegetable oil was found to be using 1% by weight of palm kernel ash catalyst ignited 4 hours at 900 OC, adding methanol 3:1 mole ratio to oil feedstock, reacting at 65 OC for 1 hour. Biodiesel produced at the optimum condition was found to have 86.5% yields with quality complied with standard set by Thailands Ministry of Energy.