Production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil using MgO nanocatalyst

Abstract

Bio-diesel is a cheap alternative source of energy to replace conventional diesel. We report on the generation biodiesel by transesterification of waste cooking oil using MgO nanocatalyst. The MgO nanocatalyst was synthesized by sol-gel method which is less time consuming, cost effective and yields high purity of the product. XRD results shows that the MgO nanoparticles (∼15 nm) have orientation along [111], [200], [220], [222] and [311] planes. A biodiesel yield of 80% was obtained by transesterification of waste cooking oil for 2 hr at 60°C using 2% (w/w) loading of the synthesized MgO nanocatalyst, with methanol to oil molar ratio of 10:1 (v/v), stirring rate of 250 rpm and calcination temperature of 600°C. Gas chromatography studies confirm the formation of fatty acid methyl esters. Acid value and density measurements carried out also confirms the conversion of waste cooking oil into biodiesel.