Electrolytic transesterification of waste frying oil using Na⁺/zeolite-chitosan biocomposite for biodiesel production

Given the economic and environmental advantages of using Waste Fried Oil (WFO) as a starting material, this investigation explores the conversion of WFO to Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) via electrolysis for use in waste. In electrolysis, hydroxyl ions are generated from water in close proximity to the cathode. When hydroxyl ions react with methanol, they produce a species of nucleophilic methoxide which is the main actor in converting WFO into FAME. This study specifically investigates the effects of voltage, catalyst concentration, co solvent amount, rotation speed, and molar ratio of methanol to WFO in electrolytic transesterification converting WFO into FAME using graphite electrodes in the presence of a heterogeneous, catalytic zeolite-chitosan composite. With an alcohol to WFO molar ratio of 8:1, 1 wt% zeolite-chitosan composite concentration at 40 V in the presence of 2 wt% H₂O of the whole solution at room temperature and stirrer rate of 400 rpm and reaction time of 30 min, a 96.5% yield of FAME was achieved. Characterization of physical and biodiesel fuel properties was performed using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) methods. The biocomposite was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy(TEM), Brunauer Emmett Teller(BET), Thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). Finally, the physical properties of FAME produced under optimal conditions were studied using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), FTIR, surface tension, and viscosity.