Biodiesel production using gel‐type cation exchange resin at different ionic forms

In this study, a strong acidic‐type cation exchange resin was used in the transesterification of corn oil to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). The gel‐type cation exchange resin (Purolite‐PD206) was used in H⁺ and Na⁺ forms to utilize ion‐exchange resin as effective heterogeneous catalyst in the production of biodiesel. Effect of ionic forms of ion exchange resin on free fatty acid (FFA) conversion and composition was investigated by using different amounts of ion exchange resin (12, 16, and 20 wt%), various mole ratios of methanol to oil (1:6, 1:12, and 1:18 mol/mol), reaction temperatures (63, 65, and 67°C), and reaction time (24, 36, and 48 h) during transesterification reaction. The highest FFA conversions of 73.5% and 79.45% were obtained at conditions of 20 wt% of catalyst, 65°C of reaction temperature, 18:1 as methanol to oil ratio, and 48 h of reaction time for H⁺ and Na⁺ forms of ion exchange resin, respectively. These results were obtained from regression equations established by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) model according to the experimental results of selected parameters. Gas chromatography analysis revealed that FAME is mainly composed of C16:0 (palmitic), C18:1 (oleic), and C18:2 (linoleic) acids of methyl ester.