“Optimization of Transesterification Reaction Parameters For Fish Oil Biodiesel Production: A Response Surface Methodology Approach”

Abstract

The Fish oil was used to produce biodiesel by transesterification reaction with methanol as a solvent in presence of a mixture of sodium hydroxide & di-sodium orthophosphate as catalyst concentrations (mixed base catalyst). The optimization of transesterification reaction parameters were done using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) tool. Three process variables were assessed viz., Methanol to Oil Ratio (MOR), Reaction Time (RT) & Reaction Temperature (RTE). To get maximum yield of fish oil biodiesel (FOB), 20 experiments were designed and conducted. A yield of 94.6% FOB was obtained during the transesterification process carried out at the optimized reaction parameters viz., 7.5:1 MOR, 45 minutes RT & 70°C RTE. Statistical analysis of the predicted model by RSM revealed a good agreement between the observed and predicted values. Present research is successful in effectively using RSM tool for optimization of transesterification reaction parameters.