Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil by using zirconia catalyst

Abstract

Biodiesel has chemical and physical properties similar to petroleum diesel so that it becomes one of the alternative energies. In this research, biodiesel was produced with esterification and transesterification reactions by assisted zirconia catalyst. Zirconia catalyst was prepared from zirconia sand as natural resources in Indonesia. Th physical and chemical process was used in preparation of catalyst. The catalyst was characterized with XRD and SEM anaysis. Zirconia catalysts used have tetragonal crystal structure and are amfortable. Biodiesel production is carried out at 60 C with simultaneous transesterification esterification. Analysis of changes in chemical structure and formation of FAME were analyzed using GC-MS. The results of this study are the greater the percent weight added, the higher the value of FAME and the lower biodiesel obtained has density, viscosity and FFA contents. Biodiesel product was similar with SNI of biodiesel.