Production of biodiesel from fishmeal plant waste oil using ultrasonic and conventional methods

The aim of this study was to compare the biodiesel synthesis from waste fish oil (WFO) using the conventional transesterification and using ultrasonic methods. WFO has 10.5 mg KOH/g oil acidity and esterification with H2SO4 was utilized to decrease this amount to 0.6 mg KOH/g oil. Ultrasonic and conventional methods are used for the transesterification of the pre-treated WFO. The results show that the reaction temperature had more effect on the conventional method than using the ultrasonic. Optimum condition for the biodiesel production is 1% KOH, 55 °C, 6:1 alcohol to oil molar ratio and biodiesel yields were 79.6% and 78% for the ultrasonic and conventional methods respectively. 87% of methyl ester content in 1 h conventional or 30 min ultrasonic process has been reached.