Response surface analysis for optimisation of reaction parameters of biodiesel production from alcoholysis of Parinari polyandra seed oil

Availability of information on the efficiency of applied conditions to biodiesel synthesis from diverse seed oil can establish optimal biodiesel yield from favourable reaction variables. The effect of reaction parameters; temperature, time and catalyst amount, were varied on biodiesel yield from alcoholysis of Parinari polyandra oil using potassium hydroxide as catalyst. Maximum biodiesel yield of 95.62% was obtained from the experimental results. Analysis of Variance revealed that the reaction variables had significant effects on biodiesel yield. Data analysis predicted an optimal biodiesel yield of 92.75% at reaction conditions of 61.20°C temperature, 60 min, and 1 wt% of catalyst amount. Validation experiments of the optimal conditions gave an average biodiesel yield of 91.72%. The study established optimal conditions of temperature, time, and catalyst amount for biodiesel production from P. polyandra oil. The fuel properties of the biodiesel fell within the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials D6751.