Use of a solar low-cost open-source controlled plant for WCOEE synthesis based on eggshell catalyst

Abstract This paper proposes ethyl-ester biodiesel synthesis using calcined chicken eggshell as catalyst, ethyl alcohol and wasted cooking oil in an automatic low-cost production plant, using solar energy as a source of electrical and thermal energy. Eggshells based catalyst were used as source of CaO and samples of ethyl-ester were produced under reaction temperatures 40 °C and 50 °C, at molar ratios 1:6 and 1:9 (oil/alcohol), mass of the catalyst (wt% WCO) of 3% and 5%. The process temperature was monitored and controlled by low cost open-source electronic platform in order to maintain the process temperature stable. The eggshell used as catalyst proved technically feasible, such as the temperature control system, producing ethyl-ester with maximum yield of 84.3%, at 50 °C and 1:9 molar ratio with 5% mass of catalyst.