Used Cooking Oilas an Alternative Fuel

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This study entitled Used Cooking Oil as an Alternative Fuel was conducted to produce a substitute for non-renewable fuel using used cooking oil. This study involves discovering the capability of used cooking oil to serve as an alternative source of fuel that is renewable and easy to produce. Specifically, the study aims to determine if the used cooking oil can transform into fuel and run an actual engine by mixing it with commercialized diesel and with pure biodiesel.

METHODS

The researcher prepared three set-ups. In the first set-up, 1L of filtered oil was mixed with a 200 mL methanol and 7 grams of lye (KOH). In the second and third setup, the same measurement of methanol and lye were applied but the oil was reduced to 500 mL and 250 mL respectively. A grass cutter that uses petroleum as fuel was used, as a tester, to identify which set up would be most efficient as fuel.RESULTSAmong the three setups, the first set-up was the only one that is preferable for starting the engine of the tester. The second and third setups were not used because of the high amount of glycerin produced.

DISCUSSIONS

The researchers were able to produce a new, natural, efficient, and eco-friendly biodiesel for it is biodegradable, renewable and cheap. The researchers concluded that used cooking oil can be effective in the production of biodiesel and is easy to produce since it is easily found at home.