Synthesis of Biodiesel from Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil: Study on the Effect of Alkali As the Catalyst

With the escalating price of petroleum as well as the continuing depletion of fossil fuels and to reduce pollution, biodiesel is set to be a viable alternative to petroleum diesel. Currently, an improvement in the biodiesel production technology is vital because of the need to produce the biodiesel at cheaper costs and with environmental advantages. One of the main crops currently being promoted for biodiesel production in several countries, globally, is palm oil. Palm oil is highly potential feedstock compared to other vegetable oils. Amongst the available biodiesel production techniques, transesterification is the cheapest process method applied for biodiesel production. The pre-treatment process of oil is needed to minimize the impurities content from biodiesel feedstock, unless, the soap will be produced due to the nature of reaction is under alcohol circumstance and in the presence of alkali as the catalyst. This book is dedicated to researchers, academics, lecturers and students also everyone in public sectors and professional who interested in the projects of biodiesel production from natural crops.