Variation of density and flash point in acid degummed waste cooking oil

Abstract

Recycling of waste cooking oil represents a source of convenient raw materials for industry. Within the large number of products derived from the treatment of waste cooking oil, eco-friendly lubricants grown in importance during the last years. Recycling process for such application consists usually of acid or basic degumming followed by a filtration step. The effect of the specific type of acid degumming on the density and on the flash point of the recycled oil was evaluated employing full factorial design. Two mathematical equations were derived which allow to estimate respectively the density and the flash point of the recycled oil, depending on the: (a) pH of the washing solution, (b) oil/water ratio, (c) temperature of the system, and (d) the stirring time.