Biodiesel

Keywords: Transeterification, Methanol, Vegetable Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Biodiesel, Small Scale Production.
 * Formal Lab: Creating Biodiesel from Vegetable Oil. Eric and Chris.** The purpose of this lab was to create biodiesel from vegetable oil using sodium hydroxide as a catalyst. A set mixture of vegetable oil, sodium hydroxide and methanol is mixed together, and through the chemical process of transeterification methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerol are produced. The lab concluded that in order to properly create biodiesel from 250ml of vegetable oil, 3.125 grams of sodium hydroxide is need, yielding 117.5 mL of glycerol and 155 mL biodiesel. The results are similar to the expected 50% yield from the original vegetable oil volume. It is not possible to confirm that the end product of biodiesel should be 50% of the volume of the original volume of vegetable oil due to the inability to complete the process needed to ensure that there is no glycerol residue in the biodiesel. Due to that fact, this lab can be used as a model for future experiments. More accurate results could lead to the development of small scale biodiesel production done by a novice chemist.

media type="file" key="LAB.mp3" width="240" height="20"

Results Graphic: Glycerol ........................................................................Biodiesel

Apperatus:

Journal Citations:

Chris Toda, M., Takagaki, A., Okamura, M., & Kondo, J.N. (2005). Green chemistry: biodiesel made with sugar catalyst. //nature//, //438//(178), Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7065/full/438178a.html doi: 10.1038/438178a

Eric Thanh, L, Okitsu, K, Sadanaga, Y, Norimichi, T, & Maeda, Y. (2009). Ultrasound-assisted production of biodiesel fuel from vegetable oils in a small scale circulation process.//Bioresource Technology//, doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.08.050