PRODUCTION AND OPTIMIZATION OF BIODIESEL FROM CASTOR OIL VIA ALKALI-CATALYSED TRANSESTERIFICATION

Abstract

Growing environmental concerns and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves have intensified the need for sustainable alternatives to petroleum diesel, with biodiesel gaining prominence due to its renewability, biodegradability, and reduced emissions;however, reliance on edible oils raises economic and food security issues,necessitating exploration of non-edible feedstocks such as castor oil. This study aimed to produce and optimize biodiesel from castor oil via alkali-catalyzed transesterification, assessing its suitability and determining optimal reaction conditions for maximum yield and quality. The extracted oil was first characterized to establish its physicochemical properties and compatibility with base catalysis, after which transesterification was conducted using methanol and potassium hydroxide, while systematically varying temperature, catalyst concentration, and methanol-to-oil ratio. The biodiesel produced was purified and evaluated for key fuel properties, including density, viscosity, flash point, cloud point, pour point, and boiling point.Optimal conditions of 75 °C, 2.0 wt% catalyst, and 3:1 methanol-to-oil ratio yielded about 92% biodiesel with properties within standard limits, indicating efficient combustion, improved lubricity, and safe handling, thus, the study demonstrates the novelty and effectiveness of an integrated optimization compounding approach, recommending further scale-up, engine testing, emission analysis, and storage stability studies for industrial application.