Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Dairy Waste Scum using Response Surface Methodology

Dairy waste scum was collected and oil was separated. TiO₂ catalyst was synthesized and characterized using SEM, XRD and TGA analysis. Separated oil was transesterified using synthesized TiO₂ heterogeneous catalyst. Reaction was optimized for the parameters such as catalyst loading, reaction temperature, time, methanol oil molar ratio and stirring speed. In this study, the effect of reaction parameters was studied using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimized parameters are 0.9 wt% catalyst, 60°C temperature, 90 minutes time, 9:1 methanol oil molar ratio and 300 rpm stirring speed to produce a maximum yield of 93.5%.