ntroduction
Biodiesel is considered as a possible alternative and future fuel
for diesel engine due to the predicted shortage of fossil fuels
and increase in the price of the petroleum. It is biodegradable,
non-toxic, and environmentally benign with low emission
profiles1. Biodiesel, a mixture of alkyl esters of fatty acids, is
usually synthesized by the base-catalyzed trans-esterification
of oils or fats with short chain alcohols. Different types of
catalysts such as base, acid or lipase are used in transesterification
for biodiesel synthesis but the base-catalyzed
reaction is the most common in the industry due to easier,
faster and cheaper processing.