Exploring Waste Cooking Oil in Biodiesel Production: A Review of Current Practices and Future Opportunities for Green Energy

Biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil has several environmental benefits, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, biodegradability, and improved engine lubricity relative to conventional fossil fuels. Furthermore, employing it for biodiesel mitigates waste disposal challenges, hence decreasing the pollution of terrestrial and aquatic resources. Notwithstanding these advantages, other problems persist, including composition fluctuation, contamination, and the necessity for effective purification and transesterification methods. The article examines many techniques for transforming waste cooking oil into biodiesel, emphasizing the critical phases of the transesterification process, which involve catalysts, alcohols, and reaction parameters. Furthermore, sophisticated methods like ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted transesterification are examined for their capacity to enhance efficiency and diminish processing duration. This research examines the sustainability dimensions of biodiesel production from it, highlighting its contribution to fostering a circular economy and minimizing waste. The utilization of its fosters a closed-loop system, whereby waste is converted into a valuable resource.