Some properties comparison between biodisesel production from crude palm oil (CPO) and olive oil and their blendings through conventional and microwave transesterification methods

Biofuel can be divided into two types, mainly bioethanol and biodiesel. To date, the researches and developments in biofuel are in high interest to produce the most desirable properties of the biofuel. Biodiesel is in great concern as it can be used to replace the petroleum diesel which is going to deplete soon. In addition to source of fuel for transportation, biodiesel also reduces the pollutants emission compared to diesel. In the experiment, methanol as alcohol, potassium hydroxide as catalyst and the methanol to oil ratio of 6: 1 are used to produce biodiesel. Biodiesel from crude palm oil (CPO) is produced through conventional transesterification while olive oil undergoes both conventional and microwave transesterification to produce biodiesel. CPO is chosen in the study as it is readily available in Malaysia. Meanwhile, olive oil is chosen and blended with CPO to detennine the properties of the biodiese1 produced. The yield of biodiesel for CPO and olive oil from conventional transesterification process are 89.13% and 87.5% respectively while for olive oil from microwave transesterification, the biodiesel yield is 91.25%. The properties of the biodiesels and their blending in tenn of calorific value, flash point, density, moisture content and the thennal stability are observed to meet the requirement as set by ASTM