ABSTRACT
This chapter concentrates on the production of biodiesel from used cooking oil (UCO) using two-stage esterification–transesterification catalytic reactions with ion exchange resins as catalysts. This work was conducted in collaboration with Purolite International Limited for possible commercialization of novel Purolite ion exchange resins as potential biodiesel production catalysts. Renewable energy has become an important alternative resource in many countries and considered to be a potential substitute to the conventional fossil fuel. In particular, renewable energy in the form of biodiesel is considered to be one of the best available energy resources. Contamination of the internal surface of the catalyst could possibly result from the resin pore blockage, either by the presence of metal ions in the UCO or the blockage by the UCO residue itself. Biodiesel produced from the dry washing technique shows the lowest percentage of glycerides and glycerine content and therefore was chosen as the best treatment for the purification of biodiesel.
