How Does the Amount of Catalyst Used and Molar Ratio of Alcohol to Oil Affect the Quality and Amount of Biodiesel Prepared from Fresh Domestic Coconut Oil?

Chemistry Extended Essay

Title: Preparation of Biodiesel

Research Question: How does the amount of catalyst used and molar ratio of alcohol to oil affect the quality and amount of biodiesel prepared from fresh domestic coconut oil?

Word Count: 3259

Name: Paridhi Maheshwari

Candidate Number: 002198-0024

Session: May 2014

ABSTRACT

This essay focuses on addresses the question “How does the amount of catalyst used and molar ratio of alcohol to oil affect the quality and amount of biodiesel prepared from fresh domestic coconut oil?” This research analyzes the process of preparing biodiesel. This is done by varying alcohol to oil ratio and the amount of catalyst used to produce the maximum yield and high quality of biodiesel. The process of preparation of biodiesel is called transesterificaton.

The controlled variables in the reaction were the temperature and time of the reaction. The reaction mixture of every sample was heated at 650 C and stirred for 1 hour. Each of the six samples represents variance in either alcohol to oil ratio, of 3:1, 4:1 and 6:1 or proportion of catalyst, 0.5% and 1%. After separating the layers and carrying out a methyl ester wash, the yield of samples of biodiesel was measured and the samples were tested for quality. The parameters used for analysis were the kinematic viscosity index of the fuel, density, flash point, fire point, acid value and gross calorific value. The viscosity index and density were analyzed in detail.

As the alcohol to oil ratio increases, the yield also increased from 51.9% to 93.6% while the viscosity index decreased from 4.82 to 3.62 mm s-2 and the density decreased from 999 to 876.3 kg m-3. The amount of catalyst had a minor effect on the yield of biodiesel. An unusual trend in the viscosity index and higher yield was obtained with higher catalyst concentration. As the alcohol to oil ratio increases from 3:1 to 4:1 to 6:1, the viscosity index changed from 3.97 to 4.62 to 4.15 mm s-2 respectively. It was...