The main purpose of this study was to find out optimal conditions for producing biodiesel via esterification of palmitic acid in excess methanol using solid acid catalyst, viz. Amberlite™ IR-120 (H) resin. A stepwise regression for Box-Behnken design was performed to optimize parameters of this process. A % of conversion efficiencies could be explained by an insignificant lack-of-fit response surface model (R 2 = ; p = ). Optimum conditions were found as follows: 8:1 in the molar feed ratio of methanol to palmitic acid, a reaction temperature as °C, a reaction time of h. The catalyst loadings and agitation speed were kept constant at 10 wt.% of palmitic acid and 600 rpm, respectively. Under these conditions, conversion efficiency of palmitic acid to palmitic acid methyl ester reaction is ( ± ) %, and it is nearly % difference between observed and predicted values. The solid catalyst can be reused at least five times after treating in a simple way. | Application of response surface methodology to optimize biodiesel production from esterification of palmitic acid in excess methanol
