The Potential of Singgora Roof Tiles/ZnO as a Heterogeneous Catalyst in Biodiesel Production

BiodieselBiodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO) was produced using the transesterification method utilizing Singgora roof tiles as a heterogeneous catalyst. Due to their fragility and porosityPorosity, Singgora roof tiles are commonly regarded as non-recyclable waste. However, exploring their potential as solid catalysts for biodieselBiodiesel production is a promising avenue for their utilization. To enhance the chemical reaction, the wet impregnation method incorporates zinc oxide (ZnO) as an additive during catalyst production. The study aims to decrease the quantity of free fatty acid (FFA) in WCO through a two-step transesterification process. The process involves an initial acid treatment using sulfuric acid, followed by the utilization of a Singgora heterogeneous catalyst to produce high-quality methyl ester. Furthermore, the effect of important variables such as methanol to oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, reaction time, and reaction temperature was investigated in this study. The type of esters content in the biodieselBiodiesel was determined by GCMS analysis. The fuel properties of the biodieselBiodiesel produced were compared with the ASTM D6751, EN 14214, and AOCS methods in accordance with the standard. The results showed that the biodieselBiodiesel production reached an optimum yield of 96.96% under the optimal condition of a 12:1 methanol to oil ratio, 1% catalyst concentration, reaction temperature at 65 °C, and a reaction time of 2 h. The results indicate that Singgora roof tiles possess promising potential as a heterogeneous catalyst in biodieselBiodiesel production.