A Comparative Study of Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Olive Oil and Sunflower Oil

Abstract

Waste cooking oils are commonly utilized as feedstock in biodiesel synthesis. However, there has been limited research on the perspective of using waste cooking olive oil for biodiesel production. This study explores the potential of household waste frying olive oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production andcomparing it with sunflower oil. The biodiesel samples were evaluated according to European standard specifications and test methods EN 14214. However, the water content and oxidation stability did not meet the required criteria. To address this, the Rancimat method was used to investigate the potential of essential oils and plant extracts as antioxidants. Oregano essential oil and rosemary plant extracts significantly improved the oxidation stability of both olive and sunflower oil biodiesel. The analysis of the fatty acid profile of the feedstock through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry proved to be a critical determinant of biodiesel properties. Moreover, the use of ultrasound-assisted biodiesel synthesis enhanced the yield of biodiesel. The research findings have indicated that olive oil is a sustainable option to produce high-yield biodiesel with a noteworthy antioxidant stability when natural antioxidants are incorporated into the mixture.