USE OF CaO/CCA CATALYST TO OBTAIN BIODIESEL FROM RESIDUAL FRIED OIL

Abstract

The present study investigated the production of biodiesel by transesterification of residual frying oil (ORF), highlighting the use of heterogeneous catalysts, specifically CaO impregnated in rice husk ash (CCA). The ORF was characterized by the presence of hydrolytic and oxidative rancidity, evidenced by the acid value and the Kreis test, respectively, indicating its suitability for the production of biodiesel, but unsuitable for direct consumption. The catalyst support was obtained through acid leaching followed by calcination in a muffle furnace for 3h at 500°C. The esters obtained during the transesterification reaction were quantified by ¹H-NMR. From the parameters used in the reactions, a maximum yield of 1.57% was obtained for the ORF. The experiments indicated that temperature showed little impact on conversion, while reducing the amount of catalyst moderately increased conversion, making production economically advantageous. Although the catalyst has potential, future optimizations are needed to improve conversion to biodiesel, thus contributing to more efficient and sustainable methods in the biofuels industry.