A comparative study of ultrasonic and conventional methods of biodiesel production from mahua oil

Abstract

In this present work, biodiesel was produced from mahua oil (Madhuca indica) having high free fatty acids through a two step esterification and transesterification process. The first step was carried out with 0.35% mol/mol methanol to oil ratio, 1% v/v sulphuric acid and one hour reaction time at 50°C in a 1000 mL reactor. In the second step the mixture was transesterified with 1.5% mol/mol methanol to oil ratio and 0.75% v/v KOH, one hour reaction time at 50°C. The process was repeated with ultrasonic power of 1000W, 20–30 Hz frequency and five minutes reaction time. The fuel properties of MOME (mahua oil methyl ester) including acid value, density, viscosity, iodine value, flash and fire point, cloud and pour point, and calorific value obtained from both methods were compared with ASTM 2003 standards. Biodiesel produced from ultrasonic transesterification is economically viable and more efficient than that produced by the conventional method. Therefore it is concluded that the ultrasonic method is an effective way of converting crude mahua oil into biodiesel.

Keywords:

• ultrasonic method
• mahua oil
• methanol
• sulphuric acid
• potassium hydroxide
• biodiesel

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.