Optimization of biodiesel production from grape seed oil using Taguchi's orthogonal array

The physicochemical properties of biodiesel are very similar to those of petroleum diesel fuel. The main focus of this study is the production of the biodiesel from grape seed oil. This study shows the optimization of the operation parameters, specifically regarding catalyst concentration, the reaction time, the molar ratio (i.e., methanol-to-oil ratio), and the reaction temperature for the production of biodiesel. The effect of operation factors on performance parameters is analyzed using Taguchi's orthogonal array. The results depict that 96.90% was the optimum biodiesel yield at a molar ratio 6:1 with a catalyst concentration of 1% by weight and a reaction time of 60 min at 60 degrees C and 4.34 cSt was the optimum biodiesel viscosity at a molar ratio of 6:1 with a catalyst concentration of 0.5% by weight and a reaction time of 75 min at 45 degrees C. The most effective parameter was observed to be catalyst concentration, which conferred 76.39%, and 53.74% of the total influence on the biodiesel yield (Y-1) and viscosity (Y-2), respectively.