SONOCHEMICAL SYNTHESIS OF BIODIESEL FROM CATFISH FAT

Abstract

Biodiesel was prepared from catfish fat by alkaline-catalyzed transesterification with methanol. Using ultrasonic irradiation considerably sped up the transesterification and the phase separation as well as reduced by-product formation in the product in comparison with the heat-chemical method. The basis factors, such as content of catalysts, reaction time, dissolved time of catalyst in methanol, mol ratio of reactants, ultrasonic power, etc. were investigated and optimized. Biodiesel yield was more than 90%. Obtained biodiesel fuel was up to the Vietnamese standard for biodiesel fuel blend stock (B100).