Biodiesel production via alkali-catalyzed transesterification of Malaysian RBD palm oil – Characterization, kinetics model

Biodiesel as an alternative fuel was produced by transesterification of Malaysian RBD (Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized) palm oil with alkaline catalysts. Potassium and sodium hydroxide were used as catalysts in this reaction at temperature of 60 °C in a stirred tank reactor with 600 rpm stirring. Gas chromatography was used to determine the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) contents in the produced biodiesel. Yield of reaction which was carried out with KOH as a catalyst is a higher value than the reaction when NaOH was used as a catalyst. A second-order reaction mechanism which was purposed by Leevijit et al. (2004) was applied to calculate the product concentrations. There was a good agreement between the methyl ester concentrations measured experimentally and what was predicted from the kinetic model. Finally important fuel properties of produced biodiesels were obtained and compared with petro diesel and the ASTM standards which indicate that the biodiesel with acceptable quality was synthesized experimentally.