Acid-catalyzed esterification for biodiesel production from acid oil

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Food Science and Technology Department, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Food Science and Technology Department, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

3 Department of Food Science and Technology, Yasooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasooj, Iran

4 shiraz university

5 Department of Biosystems Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

10.22050/ijogst.2025.338908.1637
Abstract
In this study, acid oil, which is a by-product of oil refinery waste was used for acid-catalyzed esterification to produce biodiesel. The reaction variables were methanol: acid oil molar ratio (1:1, 5:1, and 10:1), catalyst concentration (1%, 2%, and 3%), and reaction time (5, 30, and 60 min). Conversion yield, mass yield, free fatty acid (FFA) content, and physical properties (viscosity, density, refractive index, color attributes) of all the biodiesel samples were investigated. With increasing the methanol: acid oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, and time, conversion yield and density increased, while free fatty acid content, viscosity and refractive index decreased, displaying an asymptotic trend toward equilibrium. At methanol: acid oil molar ratio of 10:1, catalyst concentration of 3%, and reaction time of 60 min, a near-maximum conversion yield of 95.3% was achieved. These conditions were considered optimum practical conditions, balancing biodiesel yield with operational and economic feasibility. Final yield of produced biodiesel at the practical optimum condition was 84.25%, which confirms that acid oil is a suitable feedstock for biodiesel production.

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  • Receive Date 21 June 2022
  • Revise Date 09 September 2025
  • Accept Date 13 September 2025