Biodiesel synthesis
from non-edible vegetable oil via catalytic
transesterification is one of the effective ways to replace petroleum-based
fuels in the area of renewable energy development and is beneficial
to environmental security. Therefore, this research investigates the
optimization of process parameters (temperature, methanol to oil ratio,
and NaOH catalyst dose) for the conversion of biodiesel from non-edible
desert date (Balanites Aegyptiaca)
seed kernel oil using the Box–Behnken experimental design of
response surface methodology statistical analysis. Accordingly, the
optimum values of reaction conditions, namely, a temperature of 60.5
°C, methanol to oil ratio of 6.7:1, and catalyst dose of 0.79
%wt, yielded 93.16% biodiesel. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
analysis confirmed the cracking of a single glycerol backbone from
the triglycerides and the substitution by methoxyl in the presence
of a NaOH catalyst. The physicochemical properties of the biodiesel
were investigated and compared with standards in terms of its density,
viscosity, higher heating value, acid value, saponification value,
cetane number, cloud point, pour point, and flash point, and the values
are within the recommended standard limits of American Standard for
Testing Material (ASTM D6751) and European Committee for Standardization
(EN14214). Thus, the results revealed that homogeneous base catalysis
of non-edible oil under optimum reaction conditions provides high
yield of biodiesel.