Investigation of biodiesel production from safflower oil

In this study, first of all, the properties of safflower oil, acid value, iodine value, peroxide value, saponification number, kinematic viscosity and density were determined. In the second step, the ester content of safflower oil into biodiesel was investigated through transesterification reaction in the presence of base-catalyzed. Different experimental variables such as oil/ethanol molar ratio (1:3, 1:6 and 1:9), sodium methoxide (NaOCH3) catalyst concentration (0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.00%) were investigated, while the rate of stirring 600 rpm and reaction temperature 65±1°C conditions were kept constant. As a result, oil/ethanol molar ratio of 1:6, catalyst concentration of 1.00%, rate of stirring of 600 rpm, reaction temperature of 65±1°C and 20 min reaction duration offered the best safflower oil ethyl ester yield (99.2 %). Characterization of the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) was accomplished by Iatroscan MK-6s TLC/FID.