Optimized transesterification reaction for efficient biodiesel production using Indian oil sardine fish as feedstock

This experiment focused on biodiesel production using Indian oil sardine fish as a new low-cost feedstock. Bligh and Dyer's method was followed for oil extraction from Indian oil sardine fishes. Biodiesel was produced by KOH catalyzed transesterification reaction with a reaction temperature of 150 °C. Optimization of the process parameters influencing the biodiesel production was performed using response surface methodology (RSM). Box-Behnken experimental design was used for the statistical analysis. The effect of methanol vol%, KOH wt% and reaction time over the reaction were studied. Chemical characterization of the biodiesel produced was carried out by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) analysis. Physicochemical properties of the biodiesel were characterized according to ASTM 6751 standard. The optimum process conditions for the biodiesel yield of 96.57% were found to be 20 vol% methanol, 1.25 wt% KOH and 25 min reaction time. The 150 °C reaction temperature used in this process enhances the transesterification reaction by reducing the reaction time from the normally observed 60–120 min to 25 min with a high yield of biodiesel.