Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of biodiesel from peanut oil by using response surface methodology

Biodiesel is a non-toxic and renewable fuel produced by a transesterification reaction between alcohol and vegetable oil. The objective of this paper is to optimize the ultrasound-assisted production of biodiesel. The central composite design method was used to optimize the transesterification reaction conditions of biodiesel production from peanut oil. The independent variables investigated in the course of the experiment include the catalyst concentration, the reaction time, and the ultrasonic amplitude. The reaction was done by employing ultrasound under set conditions of atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature. A statistical model predicted the optimum conversion yield of peanut biodiesel to be 100.00% under the following optimum experimental conditions: ultrasonic amplitude equals 69.7%, catalyst concentration equals 0.88% weight percent catalyst, and reaction time of 39.38 s. Also, such conditions led to obtaining the linear equation for predicting the conversion yield of biodiesel production.