OPTIMIZATION OF TRANSESTERIFICATION OF YELLOW OLEANDER OIL USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY
Dauda Baba*, Ibrahim M. Idriss, Abdullateef Baba and Mustapha Hussaini
ABSTRACT
The use of edible vegetable oil as a raw material for biodiesel production gives rise to the high cost of biodiesel,
which makes it more expensive than the conventional diesel. Recent biodiesel research focuses on exploring ways
to reduce this high cost, especially methods concentrating on minimizing the raw material cost. The use of less
expensive or non-consumable plants instead of raw vegetable oil to produce biodiesel is an effective way to bring
down the cost of the raw material. This necessitates the use of non-edible oil such as yellow oleander oil for the
production of biodiesel. This research presents the report of optimization of transesterification of yellow oleander
(thevetia peruviana) oil using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD)
technique consisting of 28 runs was employed to study the effect of process variables: methanol to oil ratio (1:6 -
1:3), catalyst concentration (0.5 - 1.5), reaction time (30 min – 120min) and reaction temperature (50 – 60 oC).
Statistical analysis of the variables and their interactions were carried out which lead to the development of a
regression model. The maximum yield of 93.33 % was obtained at methanol-oil ratio of 1:5, catalyst concentration
of 1.5g/g and reaction time of 120 min. The result of simulation of the model shows a close agreement with the
experimental value.
Keywords: Transesterification, RSM, yellow oleander, optimization, biodiesel.
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