Process Optimization Using Experimental and Statistical Modeling in Biodiesel Production from Palm Oil

The optimization of biodiesel production through experimental design and statistical modeling carries significant industrial and economic benefits. The utilization of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and statistical modeling permits accurate manipulation of the crucial process parameters. In this work, a statistical model was effectively applied to optimize two major process parameters (namely reaction time and reaction temperature) for the production of biodiesel during the transesterification of palm oil. The transesterification of palm oil was studied using experiments designed through RSM to determine the optimal reaction conditions. Based on the statistical model generated by RSM, the optimal parameters for maximizing methyl ester yield were identified as a reaction time of 343 min and a temperature of 58.3 °C. Under these conditions, the model predicted a methyl ester yield of 83.57%. Experimental validation under the same conditions resulted in a yield of 83.80%, closely aligning with the predicted value and confirming the model’s reliability.