LAUSR

Abstract Currently, fossil fuels are used in diesel engines and are essential in industrialized areas. However, the use of petroleum-based diesel increases environmental pollution. To solve this worldwide problem, transesterified vegetable oil grown in set-aside land can serve as a renewable energy resource. In this study, the kinetic transesterification of Thevetia peruviana oil with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (molar ratio 1:4) was investigated. The experiments were conducted by varying the kinetic parameters, such as the amount of the prepared CH 3 OK alkali catalyst, stirring rate, reaction temperature and time, to determine the optimal kinetic conditions. The transesterification of T. peruviana oil to DMC-esters (DMC-TP-BioDs) proceeds by a first-order mechanism. The corresponding values of the activation energies and rate constants were determined. The maximum yield of 97.50% was obtained for the transesterification of T. peruviana oil within 90 min at 85 °C at an agitation speed of 200 rpm.