Abstract
Biodiesel quality and yield are affected by several processes. The study aimed to optimize the operating variables such as the effect of different zeolites, various concentrations of KOH support loaded during activation of zeolite, heterogeneous, and homogenous catalysts. Heterogeneous catalyst concentration (5wt % to oil mass), temperature (70oC), reaction time (7h), and reaction speed (600rpm) were all fixed during the reaction while for homogenous catalyst NaOH concentration used was (1wt % to oil mass) and reaction time was one hour,
mixing intensity and temperature condition were the same for zeolite. Biodiesel was synthesized by transesterification of Gmelina arborea seed oil and Sheabutter with methanol using KOH/Zeolite and NaOH. Biodiesel from both Shea butter and Gmelina arborea seed oil has high flash points, high cetane numbers,and low viscosity. Gmelina arborea seed oil as a nonfood feedstock was transformed into biodiesel with a high yield of 89.4 % and the same conditions applied to Shea butter oil with a high yield of 95.8 %. Also, both biodiesels have good fuel parameters, and the biodiesel produced from fresh zeolite gave the highest flash point, lowest viscosity for Gmelina arborea oil methyl esters, and high cetane number and low viscosity for Shea butter methyl esters.