CRUDE PALM OIL BIODIESEL BY TRANSESTERIFICATION PROCESS USING CHOLINE HYDROXIDE CATALYST

Biodiesel is generally made by transesterification using alkaline catalyst.Choice of catalyst used greatly affects the biodiesel produced.Choline Hydroxide (ChOH) catalyst is a basic ionic liquid having excellent catalytic reactions in the synthesis of palm biodiesel from Crude Palm Oil (CPO).This catalyst is able to produce biodiesel without soap formation which at the end of the reaction, three layers formed.They are biodiesel, the catalyst itself and glycerol.This makes it easy to separate biodiesel from the by product.Several other important variables in addition to the choice of catalyst and is catalyst dosage, molar ratio of ethanol to CPO and reaction time.The highest yield of biodiesel produced is 99.84% with molar ratio of ethanol to CPO is 9:1, reaction time is 90 minutes, 5.5% catalyst (w/w) at 70 °C and 400 rpm stirring speed.The most influential variable is catalyst dosages that give the significant difference yield of biodiesel produced.It evidenced by more dosages of catalyst used will provide a higher yield of biodiesel.