The termbiodiesel is used to define amixture of simple alkyl esters of
long-chain fatty acids that can be produced from vegetable oils, animal
fats, or recycled cooking oils. The obtained product can be used as fuel for
diesel engines, either neat or when blended with petroleum diesel [4,5].
Biodiesel is traditionally produced by transesterification (also called
alcoholysis) with an alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol, in the presence
of a catalyst, usually alkaline, accompanied by heating of the reagents
[6,7]. Two immiscible phases, triglycerides and alcohol, react in the
presence of KOHduring 1 or 2 h in a batch reactor, producing glycerol and
esters, which can be separated by gravitational settling