Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil: Opportunities for Sustainable and Circular Energy Development

Abstract

The primary aim of this review paper is to present a step-by-step detail, problem and solutions to boost the output of the biodiesel production by incorporating different microorganisms that have the ability of producing the enzyme to transform used cooking oil to biodiesel. The article discusses the current developments in biodiesel production, with an emphasis on the use of waste cooking oils (WCOs) as a green raw material. The existing methods of transesterification, including heterogeneous acid catalysts, alkali catalysts and enzyme-catalyzed reactions are also outlined. The enzymes required in such kinds of reactions are also addressed as well as the benefits of the enzymatic method compared to the other methods. The most promising enzymes to convert biodiesel are the lipases at the moment. The tenets of the circular economy are observed by employing waste cooking oils (WCOs) in the biodiesel production process, as well as by tackling the issues of poor disposal of these products. Finally, the possibility of biodiesel production through the utilization of leftover cooking oils provides an opportunity to decrease fossil fuel reliance, which can help advance a sustainable agenda and the use of the circular economy.