OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FORM COTTONSEED AND

ii Transesterification of cottonseed oil and canola oil was carried out using low molecular weight alcohols and potassium hydroxide. For cottonseed oil, a central composite design with eight factorial, six center and six axial points was used to study the effect of catalyst concentration, molar ratio of ethanol to cottonseed oil and reaction temperature on percentage yield and percentage initial absorbance (%A385nm) of the biodiesel. Catalyst concentration and molar ratio of ethanol to cottonseed oil were the most influential variables affecting percentage conversion and percentage initial absorbance. Maximum percentage yield of 98 % is predicted at a catalyst concentration of 1.07 % (wt/wt) and ethanol to cottonseed oil molar ratio of 20:1 at reaction temperature of 25°C. Maximum %A385nm of more than 80 % is predicted at 0.5 % (wt/wt) catalyst concentration and molar ratio of 3:1 at 25°C. The response surfaces that described percentage yield and %A385nm were inversely related. Gossypol concentration ( % wt), oxidative stability and %A385nm of biodiesel were found to be highly correlate