Comparison between Water Hyacinth and Waste Cooking Oils as Source of Biofuel Production

The problem of fossil fuel increases by time around the world, Biodiesel is an environmentally friend renewable diesel fuel alternative. The present work aims to determine the possibility for biofuel production from non-edible plant (Water hyacinth) and waste cooking oils in addition to potential uses as source for glycerol, pigments and antioxidant compound sources. this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of biodiesel production from water hyacinth using two solvent systems (chloroform: methanol, 2:1v/v and Hexane), Moreover, WCO applying one steps alkaline transesterification process using methanol, NaOH (0.25) and KOH (0.25, 0.5 and 1g) as a catalyst and hot distilled water for purification. both produced biodiesel (from Eichhornia and WCO) was characterized using FTIR and some chemical constant such as IV, SV and AV. The highest biodiesel produced from Eichhornia recorded with chloroform: methanol system when compared with Hexane. However, the highest biodiesel produced from WCO was recorded when using KOH (0.25g). Also, the obtained results reported the possibility for use glycerol produced from the both biofuel sources in body butter (makhmaria) production, Authors concluded that, the produced biodiesel from both sources was within the recommended standards of biodiesel fuel. Also, water hyacinth became useful in antioxidant compounds production, the contained pigments may be used as natural coloring substances in different fields.