Characterization of Biodiesel Using Various Feedstocks

Biodiesel has become a subject of great interest in renewable energy technologies, because of the high demand in clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies. A base-catalyzed transesterification was the first technique chosen for biodiesel production given that it is the predominant method for commercial-scale production, due to the low temperatures and pressures required during production. This approach reacts the triglycerides found in animal and plant fats and oils with alcohol and a catalyst to produce biodiesel and glycerol as the byproduct. Methanol and potassium hydroxide were used as the alcohol and catalyst, respectively. After characterizing the biodiesel from different feedstocks, this project will later compare the conversion rate into fuel and product purification, with other biodiesel production techniques such as using other alcohols, catalysts and enzymes