SYNTHESIS OF BIODIESEL FROM PALM KERNEL OIL (PKO) AND CANARIUM SCHWEINFURTHII (ATILI) OIL VIA CATALYTIC TRANSESTERIFICATION
Abstract
ABSTRACT
As the demand for renewable energy sources continues to rise, biodiesel production emerges
as a promising solution for sustainable fuel alternatives. This research investigated the
synthesis of biodiesel from Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) and Canarium schweinfurthii (Atili) oil via
transesterification using calcium oxide (CaO) as a heterogeneous catalyst. Various feedstock
ratios (100% PKO, 100% Atili, and blends of 50:50, 70:30, and 30:70) were evaluated to
determine their impact on biodiesel yield and properties. The transesterification reactions were
conducted at a temperature of 80°C with a methanol-to-oil ratio of 6:1 and catalyst
concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3% wt. The results indicated that the highest biodiesel yield of
82.143% was achieved with the 70:30 (PKO:Atili) blend at 2% CaO. Characterization of the
biodiesel revealed that the physical and chemical properties, including density, acid value, free
fatty acid content, iodine value, peroxide value, water and sediment content, flash point, pour
point, and cloud point, mostly met ASTM standards. This research confirms the effectiveness
of using Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) and Canarium schweinfurthii (Atili) oil as viable feedstocks
for biodiesel production and highlights the importance of optimizing feedstock ratios and
catalyst concentrations to enhance yield and quality. The findings provide valuable insights for
advancing biodiesel production as a sustainable energy solution.
Key words: Biodiesel, Transesterification, Heterogenous catalyst, Canarium schweinfurthii
(Atili), Palm Kernel Oil
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