Efficient Biodiesel Production via CaO Catalysis: Optimization of Waste Cooking Oil Conversion
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Abstract
The global transition toward renewable energy sources have intensified studies on biodiesel production from waste cooking oil (WCO) as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based fuels. This study investigates calcium oxide (CaO) as a heterogeneous catalyst for the transesterification of various waste cooking oils. A systematic Box-Behnken Design (BBD) approach was employed to optimize critical reaction parameters, including methanol-to-oil molar ratio (6:1-12:1), catalyst concentration (1-5 wt.%), reaction temperature (50-70°C), and reaction time (1-4 hours). The optimized conditions yielded biodiesel conversion rates exceeding 96% under mild reaction conditions (methanol-to-oil ratio of 9:1, 3 wt.% catalyst, 60°C, 3 hours.The CaO catalyst demonstrated good reusability, maintaining >85% of its initial activity after three consecutive reaction cycles. This study establishes CaO-catalyzed transesterification as an efficient, environmentally sustainable approach for converting waste cooking oils into high-quality biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751 specifications.
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