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ABSTRACT
This study was aimed at applying zeolite as a catalyst in the production of biodiesel from a quaternary oil blend. The methods used in synthesizing the catalyst and biodiesel were hydrothermal method and two step transesterification process respectively. The catalyst was analyzed using methods such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, DTA/TGA and EDX, which indicated that the catalyst had an aluminosilicate structure which contained a low Si/Al ratio of 0.954 which is than less than 2 thereby, classifying it as a low silica zeolite. Analysis of the oil blend and biodiesel was performed using simplex lattice design and Taguchi method respectively. The variance analysis and R2 values of both studies were found to be of significance and of a good fit with the model predicted. The physicochemical properties of the oil blend were: acid value of 28.05mgKOH/g, viscosity of 7.86mPas, density of 0.9506g/cm3 and for the biodiesel synthesized: density of 0.89g/cm3 , kinematic viscosity of 5.65mPas, acid value of 0.55mgKOH/g and a flashpoint of 139°c. Catalyst concentrations of 2% and 6% weight produced a biodiesel with a low acid value of 0.48mgKOH/g and an optimal yield of 96.12% respectively. A blend jatropha oil, waste cooking oil, neem oil and palm kernel oil is a viable feedstock for biodiesel synthesis.
