A Review of the Emission, Performance, Combustion, and Optimization Parameters in the Production of Biodiesel from Waste Cooking Oil

Abstract

With the rising consumption of energy comes the challenge of the depletion of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are non-renewable and finite energy sources with increasing energy demand as a result of the rise in human population and industrialization. This concern has led researchers to seek alternative energy sources that are both economically, technically viable, and environmentally beneficial. Biodiesel is considered an alternative source of energy supply. It is non-toxic, biodegradable, carbon-neutral, and ecologically friendly. However, the high cost of producing biodiesel from feedstocks impedes its commercialization. Hence, WCO used in the production of biodiesel helps to reduce the overall cost of production. The characteristics of the performance, emission, and combustion of the biodiesel produced from the transesterification of WCO are reviewed in this study. The molar ratio of methanol to oil, the concentration of the catalyst, reaction temperature, and time were used to investigate the optimization parameter required in the synthesis of biodiesel from WCO. The number of times the catalyst can be reused while maintaining a good catalytic activity in biodiesel production was also studied. The optimization models and techniques for the prediction of biodiesel yield were also studied.

Magnesium Oxide (MgO) as a Sustainable Catalyst for Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil: A Comparative Study with KOH

“…Transesterification involves the reaction of alcohol and esters (triglycerides) to produce ethyl/methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerol. This method is widely used for producing biodiesel from sources such as edible oils, waste cooking oils, animal fats, and yellow grease [3][4][5]23]. The transesterification of WCO into biodiesel using the MgO catalyst was conducted under a set of optimized reaction conditions to maximize the conversion efficiency.…”

“…Biodiesel can be synthesized utilizing WCO as the primary feedstock. Biodiesel derived from WCO is renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic [1][2][3][4][5]. Various catalysts have been explored to optimize the transesterification process.…”

“…Among these, magnesium oxide (MgO) has garnered attention due to its unique properties, such as a high surface area, alkalinity, and thermal stability, which contribute to its efficiency as a heterogeneous catalyst. This section presents a comprehensive analysis of existing research on MgO, comparing its performance and applicability with other commonly used catalysts, including homogeneous catalysts like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH), as well as heterogeneous catalysts such as calcium oxide (CaO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) [2][3][4].…”