Production of biodiesel by transesterification of Jatropha oil with microwave heating

Improving biodiesel yield from pre-esterified inedible olive oil using microwave-assisted transesterification method

In the present research, biodiesel production from olive oils with different initial free fatty acid concentrations (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0%) was evaluated. A two-stage acid-catalyzed esterification and alkaline-catalyzed transesterification (ACT) process using the microwave heating method was compared with the traditional heating method. Free fatty acid was reduced to less than 2.0% in the first stage. Although no significant difference was observed between microwave and traditional esterification methods in terms of fatty acid reduction, the microwave treatment significantly decreased reaction time by 92.5%. Comparing microwave ACT results with those of the traditional heating method showed that the microwave can significantly increase methyl ester yield and purity, and simultaneously decrease reaction time. Physical constants of methyl esters were also improved using the microwave heating method. Therefore, the microwave heating method can be regarded as an efficient method instead of the two-stage method for biodiesel production. This method is capable of using inedible olive oil with high concentrations of free fatty acids.

Process intensification approach for design and optimization of biodiesel production from palm fatty acid distillate

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Two intensified processes of biodiesel production from palm fatty acid distillate are considered.

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Optimization of a total annual cost is used to find optimal process design parameters.

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Economic evaluation of the intensified biodiesel process is performed.

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Environment evaluation of the intensified biodiesel process is performed.

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The esterification-transesterification intensified process is the best alternative.

Design of the biodiesel production from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) using process intensification approach is studied in technical, economic and environmental view points. Firstly, the transport phenomena analysis is performed to select the suitable intensified unit. The reactive distillation is selected and used in esterification – transesterification process and hydrolysis – esterification process. The optimum condition of reactive distillation in esterification – transesterification is achieved when the methanol is fed at the 3rd stage of the 4-stage column and the liquid holdup is maintained at 6 m³. The intensified esterification – transesterification process offers higher biodiesel yield and consumes less energy compared with the intensified hydrolysis – esterification process. The economic analysis shows that the intensified esterification-transesterification process is found to be economically feasible. Finally, environment assessment based on life cycle analysis (LCA) indicates that the environmental impact of both processes are similar.

A Comprehensive Review on Oil Extraction and Biodiesel Production Technologies

Dependence on fossil fuels for meeting the growing energy demand is damaging the world’s environment. There is a dire need to look for alternative fuels that are less potent to greenhouse gas emissions. Biofuels offer several advantages with less harmful effects on the environment. Biodiesel is synthesized from the organic wastes produced extensively like edible, non-edible, microbial, and waste oils. This study reviews the feasibility of the state-of-the-art feedstocks for sustainable biodiesel synthesis such as availability, and capacity to cover a significant proportion of fossil fuels. Biodiesel synthesized from oil crops, vegetable oils, and animal fats are the potential renewable carbon-neutral substitute to petroleum fuels. This study concludes that waste oils with higher oil content including waste cooking oil, waste palm oil, and algal oil are the most favorable feedstocks. The comparison of biodiesel production and parametric analysis is done critically, which is necessary to come up with the most appropriate feedstock for biodiesel synthesis. Since the critical comparison of feedstocks along with oil extraction and biodiesel production technologies has never been done before, this will help to direct future researchers to use more sustainable feedstocks for biodiesel synthesis. This study concluded that the use of third-generation feedstocks (wastes) is the most appropriate way for sustainable biodiesel production. The use of innovative costless oil extraction technologies including supercritical and microwave-assisted transesterification method is recommended for oil extraction.

Optimization of operational and design parameters of a Simultaneous Mixer-Separator for enhanced continuous biodiesel production

Nowadays, biodiesel is promoted as an alternative and renewable fuel. The mass-transfer limited transesterification reaction is commonly used for biodiesel production, but it could benefit from process intensification technologies. The Simultaneous Mixer-Separator (SMS) is a novel process intensification reactor capable of integrating the mixing and separation of reactants within a single unit. The current study aims to determine the ideal parameters for continuous biodiesel production using an SMS setup that was exclusively designed and fabricated in-home for enhanced biodiesel production. The research statistically analyzed the effect of the space between the rotor and the bottom of reactor (h) (0.7, 1.0, 1.3 cm), the diameter ratio between the rotor and the stator (Dr/Ds) (0.5, 0.7, 0.9), and the frequency of the rotor’s rotary speed (R f ) (20, 40, 60 Hz) on biodiesel yield using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Optimal oil to fatty acid methyl ester(FAME) conversion of 93.2% and the optimal volumetric production rate of 1,980 (kg FAME/m3·h) were obtained by setting the SMS to a rotational frequency of 39 Hz, an h of 0.7 cm, and a D r /D s of 0.85.

Biodiesel and Hydrogen Production in a Combined Palm and Jatropha Biomass Biorefinery: Simulation, Techno-Economic, and Environmental Evaluation

The biodiesel from lignocellulosic materials has been widely recognized as an alternative fuel to meet energy requirements worldwide, facing fossil fuel depletion, and emerging energy policies. In this work, the biorefinery approach was applied for biodiesel production from jatropha and palm oils in order to make it economically competitive by the utilization of residual biomass as the feedstock for obtaining hydrogen via steam reforming of glycerol and gasification. The linear chains for hydrogen and diesel were simulated using UniSim software and main stream properties were collected from the literature or predicted by correlations. The proposed scheme of biorefinery was analyzed through environmental and techno-economic assessment to identify the feasibility of this process to be implemented. Three different blends of oils (JO10-PO90, JO20-PO80, and JO30-PO70) were considered in the environmental analysis to determine alternatives for reducing potential environmental impacts (PEIs). It was found that the acidification potential highly contributed to the environmental impacts attributed to the use of fossil fuels for heating requirements, and JO30-PO70 blend exhibited the lowest PEI value. The economic indicators were calculated to be 8,455,147.29 $USD and 33.18% for the net present value and internal rate of return, respectively. These results revealed that the proposed combined biomass biorefinery is feasible to be scaled up without causing significant negative impacts on the environment.

Acidic Functionalized Nanobohemite: An Active Catalyst for Methyl Ester Production

In the biodiesel production, acidic catalysts are ideally suitable for reacting with different oil sources at various free acid levels. On the other hand, the nanocatalysts can easily be propagated in the reaction medium and provide more accessible active sites for reaction. The aim of this work was to synthesize an acidic nanocatalyst based on boehmite nanoparticles then studying it to biodiesel production from soybean oil. Up to now, no reports were found on biodiesel production by this catalyst. After the synthesis and characterization of the catalyst, using response surface methodology (RSM), the optimized conditions for transesterification were 4.87 wt.% for catalyst dosage, 13:1 for the molar ratio of methanol to oil, 60 °C for reaction temperature, and 3 h for reaction time. At the optimal point, the production yield was 99.8 %. After six consecutive use of the catalyst, the yield dropped slightly (88 %). Consequently, the catalyst can be employed efficiently several runs in the production process.

Biodiesel Production from a Novel Nonedible Feedstock, Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Seed Oil

This study investigated the optimal reaction conditions for biodiesel production from soursop (Annona muricata) seeds. A high oil yield of 29.6% (w/w) could be obtained from soursop seeds. Oil extracted from soursop seeds was then converted into biodiesel through two-step transesterification process. A highest biodiesel yield of 97.02% was achieved under optimal acid-catalyzed esterification conditions (temperature: 65 °C, 1% H2SO4, reaction time: 90 min, and a methanol:oil molar ratio: 10:1) and optimal alkali-catalyzed transesterification conditions (temperature: 65 °C, reaction time: 30 min, 0.6% NaOH, and a methanol:oil molar ratio: 8:1). The properties of soursop biodiesel were determined and most were found to meet the European standard EN 14214 and American Society for Testing and Materials standard D6751. This study suggests that soursop seed oil is a promising biodiesel feedstock and that soursop biodiesel is a viable alternative to petrodiesel.