Influence of Alkaline Catalysis on the Quality of Biodiesel Obtained from Crude Palm Oil (Elaeis Guineensis)

Ruiz B.D.; Moreno C.E.; Güere Salazar F.V.; Valencia Reyes Z.L.; Caldas Garnique V.J.; Santos Tello W.C.; Tejeira M.C.; Ruiz De la Cruz J.R.; Cabrera De Ruiz K.F.; Aguilar F.S. · Chemical Engineering Transactions (2026) · DOI: 10.3303/cet26125010

Resumen

The research titled “Influence of alkaline catalysis on the quality of biodiesel obtained from crude palm oil (Elaeis guineensis) in Ucayali” evaluated the effect of methanol-to-oil molar ratio and catalyst concentration on biodiesel yield and quality. The most favorable condition was found at a molar ratio of 11:1 with 0.7% NaOH, achieving a yield of 94.7%. The resulting biodiesel exhibited suitable properties, including a density of 873.9 kg/m3, kinematic viscosity of 3.88 mm2/s, acid value of 0.29 mg KOH/g, and iodine value of 53.4 g I2/100 g. Complementary analyses indicated a higher heating value of 38.9 MJ/kg, oxidative stability of 7.2 h, and flash point of 162 °C, confirming its energetic efficiency and safe handling. Thermal characterization revealed a cloud point of 13 °C and a pour point of 11 °C, which are adequate for tropical climates. Statistical analysis showed an inverse correlation between yield and viscosity (r = –0.68) with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0.79, highlighting the significant influence of process parameters on biodiesel quality. These results demonstrate the potential of crude palm oil from Ucayali as a sustainable raw material for high-quality biodiesel production, contributing to the advancement of bioenergy in tropical regions. Copyright

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Tecnológica del Perú; Universidad Continental; Universidad Nacional de Ucayali; Universidad Nacional José Faustino Sánchez Carrión