Transesterification of fatty acid methyl ester using NaOH aqueous catalysts / Muhammad Khairul Nizam Mohd Rodzi

The research looks at the transesterification process, which transforms triglycerides from vegetable oils into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that emits less CO2 than fossil fuels and is used in internal combustion engines. The research looks at how the methanol-to-oil molar ratio and catalyst concentration affect the production of FAMEs in the transesterification process, which employs waste cooking oil, methanol, and sodium hydroxide as catalyst. The experiment was carried out at 60°C for 30 minutes with a 1:3 oil-to-methanol ratio and 1% catalyst addition, which resulted in enhanced yield utilisation. The advice for additional research is to find the ideal reaction time for the best biodiesel generation while taking the molar ratio and catalyst concentration into account. An increase in reaction time to 60 minutes believed to result in higher yield utilization of FAME. Further research will aid the transition to sustainable fuels.