Analysis of the Synthesis of Biodiesel Using the Homotopy Analysis Method

Commercial and industrial companies generally strive to increase production and offer affordable quality products through on-going research and innovation. Mathematical modeling and simulation is a vital tool in any research to optimize product development at minimum cost. In this paper we present a mathematical model for the synthesis of biodiesel from vegetable oils and animal fats. An analytical series solution of the model equations is obtained using the homotopy analysis method (HAM). The accuracy of the analytic result is validated by comparison with known experimental results and numerical results obtained using a forth-order Runge-Kutta technique. The effect of the reaction rate constants on the transesterification process is also investigated.