Synthesis of Biodiesel using Raw Mahua Oil(Madhuca Indica) with ethanol.

Biofuel was produced from raw Mahua Oil (Madhuca Indica) with ethanol to get an approximate on the set of parameters having highest yield of biofuel produced for large scale implications. A specific Design of Experiment was prepared and followed throughout the production of different samples. Naturally extracted raw Mahua Oil was obtained and used. Transesterification reaction was performed on each sample to produce biofuel. A total of 27 samples were prepared on the basis of experimental design. Every sample was prepared from 100ml raw oil and 20ml ethanol with KOH as catalyst. The variation in each sample was done by varying temperature of the reaction, time of the reaction, speed of stirring and the %Concentration of KOH in ethanol. Temperature was varied as 50oC, 70oC and 90oC; Time was varied as 50, 60 and 70min; Speed of the stirrer was set as 120, 160 and 200 RPM and %Concentration of KOH in ethanol was taken as 15%, 22.5% and 30% of 20ml of Ethanol. The results of each experiment showed approximate range of biofuel produced which was from 20ml to 25ml with glycerol being produced as the byproduct. Glycerol output was varying depending on the amount of biofuel produced after separation by water bath using distilled water. The varying and slightly less amount of biofuel synthesis was result of high Free Fatty Acid content in the raw oil.