Effects of Catalyst Type and Concentration on Biodiesel Yield and Quality

Abstract

This paper present study report the effect of catalyst type and concentration on yield and quality of biodiesel prtxluced from cotton seed oil. This was achieved through the production of bicxliesel from refined cottonseed oil via the transesterification process by studying the effects of various catalysts on biodiesel yield. The catalysts studied include; hydroxide, hydroxide, iron sulphate and potassium carbonate at different concentrations. The yield of biodiesel decreased with increase in catalyst concentration from 0.25 to 0.75 wt % thus, highest conversion was obtained at 0.25 wt % concentration for sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), iron sulphate (FeS04) and potassium carbonate (K2C03) catalysts with coresponding yields Of 96 0/0, 94 0/0, 92 0/0 and 82 0/0. The fuel properties from the transesterified refined cottonseed oil show its suitability with the ASTM standard for the production of biodiesel.