Optimization of transesterification for methyl ester production from chicken fat

0016-2361/$ see front matter 2011 Elsevier Ltd. A doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2011.03.042 Abbreviations: CFME, chicken fat methyl esters; American society of testing and materials; KOH, p sodium hydroxide; KOMe, potassium methoxide; NaO ⇑ Corresponding author at: Department of Automo Kocaeli University, 41380 Kocaeli, Turkey Tel.: +90 3032203. E-mail addresses: [email protected], Canakci). In this study, low cost feedstock chicken fat was used to produce methyl ester. After reducing the free fatty acid level of the chicken fat less than 1%, the transesterification reaction was completed with alkaline catalyst. Potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassiummethoxide and sodiummethoxide were used as catalyst and methanol was used as alcohol for transesterification reactions. The effects of catalyst type, reaction temperature and reaction time on the fuel properties of methyl esters were investigated. The produced chicken fat methyl esters were characterized by determining their viscosity, density, pour point, flash point, acid value, methanol content, heat of combustion value, total-free glycerin, mono-di-tri glycerides, copper strip corrosion and ester yield values. The measured fuel properties of the chicken fat methyl ester met EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 biodiesel specifications when using potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide catalysts with high ester yield. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.