Optimization and Production of Biodiesel from Castor Seed Oil Using Cocoa Pod Ash as a Catalyst

This research work uses a base catalyst made from cocoa pods to optimize process variables for the production of biodiesel from castor oil. After being thermally treated for 35 minutes at 600˚C, the cocoa pods were sieved to ensure homogeneity before being utilized in the transesterification process. Using Definitive Screen Design in Design Expert software 10.1, optimization was carried out. It was discovered that the ideal parameters for producing biodiesel using castor oil were 50˚C, 2.5 hours of reaction time, a 10:1 methanol-to-oil ratio, and 6% weight percentage catalyst loading, which produced a 88% yield. The catalyst demonstrated a 69.48 kJ/mol activation energy, an exponential factor of 421.257 s−1, and four cycles of reusability. This study demonstrates the potential of catalysts made from cocoa pods for effective biodiesel production.