Sustainable in Energy Science and Technology
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): Sustainable in Energy Science and Technology

Monowave-Assisted Optimization of Transesterification for Sustainable Biodiesel Production from Sterculia foetida Oil

Zaki Aqila (Center of Renewable Energy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Medan, 20155, Medan, Indonesia)
Zhafa Aulia Pawisty (Center of Renewable Energy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Medan, 20155, Medan, Indonesia)
Adri Rakha Sebayang (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, 20238 Medan, Indonesia)
Dodi Tri Nugraha Winandar (Center of Renewable Energy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Medan, 20155, Medan, Indonesia)
Syarafina Hanifah (Center of Renewable Energy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Medan, 20155, Medan, Indonesia)
Deswita (National Innovation and Research Agency, BRIN Kawasan Puspiptek, Serpong, Tangerang, Banten 15314, Indonesia)
Fayaz Hussain (Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Feb 2026

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive optimization of biodiesel production from Sterculia foetida oil using monowave irradiation. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on a Box–Behnken design was employed to evaluate the effects of key process variables, including methanol-to-oil ratio, catalyst loading, reaction time, and irradiation conditions, on biodiesel yield. The results demonstrated that monowave irradiation significantly enhances heat transfer, accelerates reaction kinetics, and reduces processing time compared to conventional methods. Biodiesel conversion yields ranged from 83.55 % to 97.22 %, meeting the requirements of ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. The developed quadratic model showed a high coefficient of determination (R² = 98.57 %), indicating strong model reliability. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that methanol-to-oil ratio, catalyst concentration, and irradiation time were the most significant factors affecting methyl ester yield. The optimal conditions were identified at a methanol-to-oil ratio of 55.45 %, catalyst concentration of 0.884 wt%, agitation speed of 650 rpm, irradiation time of 7.55 min, and reaction temperature of 100 °C, resulting in a maximum biodiesel yield of 97.4 %. These findings confirm that monowave-assisted transesterification is an effective, energy-efficient, and cost-effective approach for sustainable biodiesel production from non-edible feedstocks.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

SiEST

Publisher

Subject

Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Bioengineering Chemistry Energy Engineering Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Materials Science & Nanotechnology Mechanical Engineering Physics

Description

Sustainable in Energy and Science Technology (SiEST) aims to serve as a multidisciplinary platform for the dissemination of cutting-edge research, innovation, and advancements in the fields of sustainable energy, environmental science, and technological artificial intelligent development. The ...