Statistical Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Non-edible Pongamia Pinnata Oil

Abstract

Biodiesel production has received considerable attention in the recent past as a renewable fuel to mitigate climate change and for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) clean affordable energy and climate action. This research study was based on optimization of the conversion of pongame oil into biodiesel fuel through lab scale batch reactor by acid esterification and alkali transesterification. using Statistical simulation analysis was conducted by Taguchi Orthogonal Array Design, with input factor variables were volume of methanol (20, 25, 30, 40 mL), quantity of catalyst used (0.8, 1.0, 1.8, 2.0 g), volume of acid used (0.2, 0.3, 0.4 0.5 mL), reaction time (55, 60, 90, 120 min) and reaction temperature levels (55, 60, 65, 70 °C). The highest pongamia biodiesel yield was obtained 78.25% experimentally as compared to simulation yield of 84.02% by weight with an error of 5.44%. The highest biodiesel yield was achieved with transesterification carried out for 100 mL pongamia oil under optimized reaction parameters such as methanol amount of 20 mL, KOH amount of 0.8 g, acid amount of 0.2 mL, reaction time 60 min reaction temperature of 55 °C at stirring rate of 700 rpm. The results showed that the properties of the pongamia biodiesel were in compliance with ASTM D 6751 and can be used as blended fuel with petro-diesel in transportation sector, thus reducing environmental pollution causing climate change and global warming.