Biodiesel is the monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids are derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. The waste chicken eggshell was applied as raw material for the preparation of heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production. Prior to use, the waste chicken egg shell was converted into calcium oxide (CaO) by calcining at 900 °C for 4 h. The selected reaction conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The catalytic activity of the catalyst in transesterification of waste frying palm oil with methanol was evaluated, and the experimental results was found that the maximum yield of fatty acid methyl esters was 94% at the following reaction conditions: reaction temperature of 60 °C, a reaction period of 4 h, a ratio of methanol to oil at 9:1, and amount of catalyst at 9% wt of oil. The base catalyst CaO can be successfully utilized for the production of biodiesel.
Keywords: Biodiesel; Waste Chicken-Eggshell; Waste Frying Palm Oil; Calcium Oxide (CaO); Transesterification;