LAUSR

The potential of biodiesel has been recognized widely, however limited availability of feedstocks have hampered its frequent production. In present study feasibility of waste cooking oil (WCO) for biodiesel production was analyzed and its characterization was performed for development of fuel quality index (FQI). Characteristics of raw oil samples and transesterified oil samples (Soyabean oil and Sunflower oil) after various heating and cooling cycles (1st–10th cycles) were analyzed and compared with American Society for Testing and Materials standards. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis clearly revealed remarkable changes in the spectralband (1400–1700 cm−1) after transformation of the fatty acid group into ester with selected oil samples obtained at varying heating and cooling cycles. Both oils samples at 10th cycle of heating and cooling showed more pronounced changes in the value of density from 0.9 to 0.93 g ml−1 in SFO, 0.91 to 0.87 in SBO and viscosity 41.45 ± 1.52 to 45.65 ± 1.45 mm2 s−1 in SFO and 40.32 ± 1.2 to 44.57 ± 1.68 mm2 s−1than the control and transesterified samples. The characteristics of transesterified oil samples were used to generate FQI, which is found to be analogous with commercial biodiesel. Thus, the present study provides a competitive alternative feedstock in the form of WCO to produce biodiesel at commercial scale.