The characteristics of waste, cooking oil biodiesel by non-catalytic methods

The research investigates the properties of biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil (WCO) through a non-catalytic transesterification process. This approach eliminates the need for chemical catalysts, reducing costs and offering a sustainable solution to waste disposal and energy needs. The process involves reacting WCO with methanol at varying molar ratios of 160, 170, and 180, with 200 mL of WCO processed in a column reactor. The reactor temperatures were set at 70 °C, 170 °C, and 150 °C for heaters one, two, and three, respectively. The properties of the biodiesel, including density, kinematic viscosity, cetane number, and iodine value, were analysed to ensure compliance with the standards outlined by the Indonesian Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation Regulation EBTKE No. 195.K/EK.05/DJE/202. The highest biodiesel yield of 51% was achieved at a molar ratio of 160. The characterization tests confirmed that the biodiesel met all specified requirements, with cetane number, density and kinematic viscosity (both at 40 °C), also iodine value (below the 115%-mass threshold) falling within acceptable ranges. This research highlights the potential of WCO as a viable feedstock for high-quality biodiesel production.