Two-step Base Catalyzed Transesterification of Chicken Fat: Optimization of Parameters

Abstract

A successful attempt was made to produce biodiesel fuels from the chicken fat through a two-step base catalyzed transesterification using potassium hydroxide (KOH) with methanol. The fat is pre-transesterified using different concentrations of KOH to find the optimal concentration, which reduces the acid value of the parent fat to less than 1%. Then, the conditions of the second step, such as catalyst concentration, methanol to fat molar ratio, temperature, and time, were optimized. The fuel properties of the produced fuels were measured according to the ASTM standards and found conformed to the specified limits. Furthermore, the optimal biodiesel sample was blended with petro diesel at different volume percentages. The results indicated that blending of biodiesel with petro diesel had a slight effect on the original properties of the latter.

Keywords:

• blending evaluation
• chicken fat
• fuel properties
• transesterification
• two-step base catalyzed transesterification