Experimental investigation of biodiesel production from Madhuca longifolia seed through in situ transesterification and its kinetics and thermodynamic studies

Kinetics and thermodynamic studies on oil extraction from Ghanaian cashew kernel using hexane

This study underlines all the techniques adopted to extract and define the oil that was extracted from cashew kernels and also to figure out if it fits the bill for applications in industrial operations. Using the solvent extraction method, the oil was obtained at different extraction times and temperatures. At the maximum temperature 333 K, the highest yield of the oil (34.7 %) was obtained at the highest extraction time 130 min adhering to first order kinetics. The mass transfer (km) and the regression coefficient (R2) were 0.0115 and 0.9853 respectively. The activation energy (Ea.), the entropy changes (ΔS), the equilibrium constant (K) and the enthalpy change (ΔH) were 59.958 KJmol-1, 228.4 KJmolK-1, 7.54 and 70.29 KJmol-1 respectively. The activation enthalpy (ΔH*), entropy (ΔS*) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG*) were 57.2880 KJmol-1, -0.1617 KJ (molK)-1 and 114.834 KJ mol-1, respectively, favoring an endothermic, irreversible, and spontaneous extraction. The negative Gibbs free energy range of -2.3342 KJ(molK)-1 to -5.7602 KJ(molK)-1 indicated the feasibility of oil extraction from cashew kernels. Also, some major fatty acids compositions that were identified in the oil after characterization were oleic acid (71 %) and linoleic acid (32 %). The oil's bond and potential functional groups were identified using the Fourier Transform Infrared analysis (FTIR) which indicated the presence of O-H, C-H, C-N, C[bond, double bond]O, C-C and = C-H.

Synthesis and characterization of magnetic bifunctional nano-catalyst for the production of biodiesel from Madhuca indica oil

The reusable magnetic multimetal nano-catalyst (Fe₃O₄.Cs₂O) was synthesized using co-precipitation and incipient wetness impregnation methods. It was used to esterify and transesterify Madhuca indica (M. indica) oil to produce biodiesel with methanol. The prepared catalyst, caesium oxide doped on the nano-magnetite core, was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Further, the activity of the catalyst was investigated by subjecting it to a biodiesel reaction. To maximize biodiesel conversion, studies were carried out by varying the process variables like catalyst concentration, methanol-to-oil molar ratio, reaction temperature, and reaction time. A maximum conversion of 97.4% was obtained at the holding conditions of 18:1 methanol-to-oil ratio, 7 wt% catalyst loading, 65 °C reaction temperature, and 300 min reaction time. Moreover, the catalyst recyclability study showed that it could be recycled up to 12 cycles with a conversion of 90% and above. The biodiesel's fuel properties were analysed and found to be within the limits of ASTM D6751 standard.

Characterization of homogenous acid catalyzed biodiesel production from palm oil: experimental investigation and numerical simulation

Biodiesel is a biological renewable source produced from the conversion of triglycerides to alkyl esters. Palm oil is one of the most used lipid feedstocks for biodiesel production. It becomes necessary to optimize the transesterification reaction parameters to reduce the cost and enhance the quality of biodiesel. This study focuses on the use of homogenous sulfuric acid as a catalyst for the transesterification of palm fatty acids to methyl esters in a batch-scale reactor. A novel examination of transesterification reaction input parameters using the technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution optimization technique and the effect of these parameters on yield, viscosity, and density of palm biodiesel using 3D surface graphs is investigated in this research. The present optimization approach is implemented to find out the optimum ranking of biodiesel production. From the experimental and numerical simulation, optimum results were observed at the catalyst concentration of 6% (w/w), reaction temperature of 70 °C, the reaction time of 120 min, and alcohol to oil molar ratio of 30:1 at which yield of 95.35%, viscosity of 5.0 cSt, and density of 880 kg/m³ of palm biodiesel were obtained. The different physicochemical properties of produced palm methyl esters are obtained within standards set by international authorities. Selected optimized process parameters can be used for commercial-scale biodiesel production.

Efficient application of newly synthesized green Bi2O3 nanoparticles for sustainable biodiesel production via membrane reactor

Introduction of waste and non-edible oil seeds coupled with green nanotechnology offered a pushover to sustainable and economical biofuels and bio refinery production globally. The current study encompasses the synthesis and application of novel green, highly reactive and recyclable bismuth oxide nanocatalyst derived from Euphorbia royealeana (Falc.) Boiss. leaves extract via biological method for sustainable biofuel synthesis from highly potent Cannabis sativa seed oil (34% w/w) via membrane reactors. Advanced techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Diffraction X-Ray (EDX), and FT-IR were employed to illustrate the newly synthesized green bismuth oxide nanoparticles. 92% of FAMEs were produced under optimal reaction conditions such as a 1.5% w/w catalyst weight, 1:12 oil to methanol molar ratio, and a reaction temperature of 92 ^⸰C for 3.5 h via membrane reactor. The synthesized Cannabis biodiesel was identified using the FT-IR and GC-MS techniques. The fuel properties of synthesized biofuels (acid number 0.203 mg KOH/g, density 0.8623 kg/L, kinematic viscosity 5.32 cSt, flash point 80 °C, pour point -11 °C, cloud point -11 °C, and Sulfur 0.00047 wt %, and carbon residues 0.2) were studied and established to be comparable with internationally set parameters. The experimental data (R² = 0.997) shows that this reaction follow pseudo first-order kinetics. These findings affirm the application of green bismuth oxide nanoparticles as economical, highly reactive and eco-friendly candidate for industrial scale biodiesel production from non-edible oil seeds.

Fatty acid ethyl ester from Manilkara zapota seed oil: a completely renewable biofuel for sustainable development

This article reports the deliverables of the experimental study on the production of a completely renewable biofuel from Manilkara zapota fruit and seed oil. It was attempted to synthesis ethyl ester from Manilkara zapota seed oil using bioethanol synthesized from decayed Manilkara zapota fruit. Bioethanol was produced through fermentation of decayed Manilkara zapota fruit, waste skin, and pulp with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and then distilled at 72°C. The bioethanol yield was noted as 10.45% (v/w). The 95.09% pure bioethanol and 4.9% water molecules were present in the distilled sample. Mechanically extracted raw Manilkara zapota seed oil was used for ethyl ester conversion. The molar ratio of bioethanol to oil, the quantity of KOH, and process temperature were investigated for the maximum yield of Manilkara zapota ethyl ester. A 9:1 molar ratio of bioethanol to oil, 1.5% (w/w) KOH, and 70°C process temperature were identified as enhanced ethanolysis process parameters. The maximum yield of ethyl ester was identified as 93.1%. Physicochemical characteristics of Manilkara zapota oil, bioethanol, and ethyl ester were measured as per the corresponding ASTM standards. It was found that both Manilkara Zapota ethyl ester and bioethanol synthesized from decayed Manilkara zapota fruit could be promising substitutes for fossil diesel and gasoline.