Dhaka University Journal of Applied Science & Engineering

High production cost can be considered as the prime challenge for the commercial biodiesel production. However, it can be minimized by manufacturing biodiesel from low-cost and locally available sources and waste materials. Here, biodiesel was produced from waste cooking oil (WCO) through transesterification process using base catalyst. Optimization of the production process showed that the yield was found up to a maximum of 96.87% under the condition of 60 °C reaction temperature, 90 min reaction time and addition of 50 wt.% methanol and 0.8 wt.% NaOH (both are on the basis of wt. of WCO) in the WCO. Physico-chemical parameters e.g., viscosity, density, acid value, pour point, flash point etc. of of the produced Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel (WCOB) were determined and compared with petroleum diesel and biodiesel standard suggested by ASTM. Engine performance involving the fuel consumption test of the produced WCOB blended with commercial diesel were also carried out. The experimental study indicates that WCO can be used as one of the alternative sources of suitable raw material to produce biodiesel (WCOB) in an economic way. 

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