Biodiesel Production Optimization using Heterogeneous Catalyst (Al2O3) in Karanja oil by Taguchi Method
Biodiesel is renewable and environmental friendly fuel which has the potential to obtain considerable performance of engine. The aim of this work is to optimize the transesterification process for production of biodiesel using Taguchi method. In this experimental work, the Karanja oil transesterification is done to produce biodiesel using Al2O3 as a heterogeneous catalyst, using five parameters and five levels. Orthogonal array obtained by Minitab to analyze the interaction effect by using Taguchi method for the transesterification reaction. The parameters such as molar ratio of methanol to oil, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time and stirring speed are effect on biodiesel yield. Effect of these parameters is investigated on small scale. Experimental yield obtained at optimal conditions i.e. are 20:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, addition of 3% Al2O3 catalyst, reaction temperature 65ºC, reaction time 60 min and 600 rpm stirring speed is 80%.