LAUSR

An economical way to reduce oil consumption and environmental problems in fuel production is the production of biodiesel from by-products and waste materials. By-products from the vegetable oil refining industry such as soap stock, acid oil, and fatty acid distillates are suitable for biodiesel production. In this study, biodiesel production was made using deodorizer distillate, which is the last step of the sunflower oil refining stage. Sunflower oil deodorizer distillate (SODD) obtained from oil facilities in Thrace region, and it was examined whether the fuel characteristics of the produced biodiesel comply with EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 standards. Biodiesel production from SODD was based on acidic catalysis method. H2SO4 was used as catalyst and methanol as alcohol. Catalyst amount, methanol to SODD ratio, reaction temperature and reaction time parameters were studied and optimum conditions were determined. As a result of the studies, the highest biodiesel yield was obtained in 1 wt% H2SO4, 12:1 methanol to SODD ratio, 65 °C reaction temperature, and 9-h reaction time. Biodiesel achieved 98.98% methyl ester concentration and 94.32% biodiesel yield. In addition, comparison of fuel properties of synthesized biodiesel with ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 showed well-matched values. Our study thus recommends SODD as a non-edible potential feedstock for biofuel production and industrial purposes.