https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2016.002
Published: Kem. Ind. 66 (1-2) (2017) 47–52
Paper reference number: KUI-02/2016
Paper type: Professional paper
Download paper:  PDF

Biodiesel Production by Transesterification of Tallow Fat Using Heterogeneous Catalysis

B. Vafakish and M. Barari

Abstract

Biodiesel is an eco-friendly alternative diesel fuel prepared from domestic renewable resources i.e. vegetable oils and animal fats. In this process, biodiesel is produced by transesterification of triglycerides present in animal fat or vegetable oils, by displacing glycerine with a low molar mass alcohol using homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis. The resulting ester, after mixing with diesel fuels, has physicochemical properties similar to those of conventional fuels. In this work, the batch process of biodiesel production has been studied using tallow fat as raw material with methanol and a heterogeneous catalyst. The quality of the produced biodiesel was evaluated by the determination of important properties, such as viscosity, flash point, cetane number, oxidation stability, glycerine content, acid value, etc. The produced biodiesel was found to demonstrate fuel properties within the ranges recommended by the ASTM D6751.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Keywords

biodiesel, tallow fat, alcoholysis, transesterification , heterogeneous catalysis