PRODUCTION OF ALTERNATE FUEL (BIO DIESEL) FROM WASTE COOKING OIL

Waste cooking oil, mainly coming from frying residues, can be used as raw materials to obtain a diesel fuel (bio diesel). As such feedstock materials can be replenished readily; bio fuel is considered as a renewable energy resources. Biodiesel a nontoxic, biodegradable, diesel-like fuel, is an important energy alternative capable of decreasing the environmental problem caused by consumption of fossil fuels. The utilization of waste vegetable oil or reused cooking oil as raw material in bio diesel production was studied. Research was undertaken establish the availability of reused cooking oil to supply a bio diesel process. It is intended that this work from an academic study combined with an environmental and technological analysis of the merits of bio diesel as a sustainable fuel. Laboratory experimentation will be investigate the possibility of using waste cooking oil from the local fast food chain, and potassium hydroxide as catalyst for the transesterification process. The cleaned waste cooking oil undergoes transesterification for four hours, after which, the bio diesel is separated from glycerin by gravity. Washing is necessary to remove residual catalyst or soap