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Sustainable biodiesel production should: a) utilize low cost renewable feedstock; b) utilize energy-efficient, nonconventional heating and mixing techniques; c) increase net energy benefit of the process; and d) utilize renewable feedstock/energy sources where possible. In this paper, we discuss the merits of biodiesel production following these criteria supported by the experimental results obtained from the process optimization studies. Waste cooking oil, non-edible (low-cost) oils (Jatropha curcas and Camelina Sativa) and algae were used as feedstock for biodiesel process optimization. A comparison between conventional and non-conventional methods such as microwaves and ultrasound was reported. Finally, net energy scenarios for different biodiesel feedstock options and algae are presented.

This study reports the kinetics of ultrasonic transesterification of waste cooking oil into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Direct sonication of waste cooking oil under controlled external temperatures was performed. Transesterification kinetics under the influence of direct sonication was studied using eight different individual reaction orders with respect to waste cooking oil and methanol. The results show that reaction temperature has a very small effect on the transesterification reaction under direct sonication. The reaction rate constants for different temperatures (35,45, 55, and 65 C) are determined as: 10.642 g 2 mol 22 min 21 ; 7.053; 7.9727; 10.971 g mol 21 min 21 respectively and the activation energy of the ultrasonic transesterification of waste cooking oil was 19,645 J mol 21 K 21 .