Department of Refrigeration and Air conditioning Engineering Faculty of Engineering ang Architecture Rajamangala University of Technology Isan
Ittipon Worapun * Nopparat Amattirat and
Department of Refrigeration and Air conditioning Engineering Faculty of Engineering ang Architecture Rajamangala University of Technology Isan .

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the optimum conditions for production of biodiesel by using hydrodynamic cavitation reactor through transesterification reaction with waste cooking oil and methanol, using potassium hydroxide as a catalyst. The effect of parameters on yield of biodiesel were focused. The parameters were studies, such as inlet pressure (2, 3 and 4 bar), methanol to oil molar ratio (4:1, 6:1 and 8:1), concentration of catalyst (0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt%) and reaction time (20, 30 and 40 minute) when reaction temperature (room temperature) was fixed at 28 °C. The experimental results showed that optimum conditions for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil were inlet pressure at 4 bar, methanol to oil molar ratio of 6:1, catalyst concentration of 1 wt% and reaction time at 30 minutes. Under the conditions, the obtained yield of biodiesel was 93%. In addition, the properties of the obtained biodiesel from optimum conditions were evaluated and it was found that the properties of biodiesel product was in the range of standard requirements of both biodiesel and low speed diesel fuel. In summary, hydrodynamics cavitation reactor can be applied to biodiesel production with one stage of transesterification reaction.

Keywords : Biodiesel, Waste cooking oil, Orifice plates, Hydrodynamics cavitation reactor