Novel mutant camelina and jatropha as valuable feedstocks for biodiesel production

Automation of the control system for drying grain crops of the technological process for obtaining biodiesel fuels

Process of grain drying is discussed by the authors, which is considered one of the preliminary stages in the technology of biodiesel production. The drying process has a number of disadvantages that affect the quality and cost of biodiesel fuel. The impossibility of uniform heating and maintaining the required temperature with minimal energy costs is considered one of the most important defects that deserve scientific research. The authors propose a method for changing the heating system and preheating raw materials, based on world experience. We carried out mathematical calculations, provided the change in the temperature field of the drying chamber over time, and we also performed industrial experiment. Based on our results we determined the optimal number of heating sources of raw materials, taking into account the dimensions of the drying chamber. The authors propose a technical solution with which a uniform temperature field can be obtained in the drying chamber. Thus, the uniformity of the chamber heating will be increased, and large operating costs associated with leakage of oil from the grains will be disappeared.

Sustainable Feedstocks and Challenges in Biodiesel Production: An Advanced Bibliometric Analysis

Biodiesel can be produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, frying oils, and from microorganism-synthesized oils. These sources render biodiesel an easily biodegradable fuel. The aim of this work was to perform an advanced bibliometric analysis of primary studies relating to biodiesel production worldwide by identifying the key countries and regions that have shown a strong engagement in this area, and by understanding the dynamics of their collaboration and research outputs. Additionally, an assessment of the main primary feedstocks employed in this research was carried out, along with an analysis of the current and future trends that are expected to define new paths and methodologies to be used in the manufacture of biodegradable and renewable fuels. A total of 4586 academic outputs were selected, including peer-reviewed research articles, conference papers, and literature reviews related to biodiesel production, in the time period spanning from 2010 to 2021. Articles that focused on feedstocks for the production of biodiesel were also included, with a search that returned 330 papers. Lastly, 60 articles relating to biodiesel production via sewage were specifically included to allow for an analysis of this source as a promising feedstock in the future of the biofuel market. Via the geocoding and the document analyses performed, we concluded that China, Malaysia, and India are the largest writers of articles in this area, revealing a great interest in biofuels in Asia. Additionally, it was noted that environmental concerns have caused authors to conduct research on feedstocks that can address the sustainability challenges in the production of biodiesel.

The production of biodiesel from plum waste oil using nano-structured catalyst loaded into supports

The present study was undertaken with aims to produced catalyst loaded on low-cost clay supports and to utilize plum waste seed oil for the production of biodiesel. For this purpose, Bentonite-potassium ferricyanide, White pocha-potassium ferricyanide, Granite-potassium ferricyanide, Sindh clay-potassium ferricyanide, and Kolten-potassium ferricyanide composites were prepared. Transesterification of plum oil under the different conditions of reactions like catalysts concentrations (0.15, 0.3 and 0.6 g), temperature (50, 60, 70 and 80 °C), reaction time (2, 4 and 6 h) and oil to methanol ratio (1:10) was conducted. The maximum biodiesel yield was recorded for Bentonite-potassium ferricyanide composite. This composite was subjected to calcination process to produce Calcinized bentonite-potassium ferricyanide composite and a further improvement in biodiesel amount was recorded. The fuel quality parameters of all biodiesel samples were in standard range. Gas chromatographic mass spectrometric analysis confirmed the presence of oleic and linoleic acids in the plum seed oil. The characterization of composite was done using FTIR, SEM and EDX. Two infrared bands are observed in the spectrum from 1650 to 1630 cm-1 indicates that the composite materials contained highly hydrogen bonded water. The presence of surface hydroxyls groups can also be confirmed from FTIR data. SEM image clearly show the presence of nano-rods on the surface of Granite-potassium ferricyanide and Kolten-potassium ferricyanide composites. Another interesting observation that can be recorded from SEM images is the changes in surface characteristic of Bentonite-potassium ferricyanide composite after calcination (at 750 °C, 1 atm for 4 h). Calcinized bentonite-potassium ferricyanide composite found to contain more nano rod like structures at its surface as compared to Bentonite-potassium ferricyanide composite which contained spherical particles. EDX data of Bentonite-potassium ferricyanide composite and Calcinized bentonite-potassium ferricyanide composite show that after calcination carbon and oxygen was reduced. The other lost volatile compounds after calcination were of Na, Mg, Al, Si, and S. The XRD spectrum of pure bentonite showed the average crystal size of 24.46 nm and calcinized bentonite of 25.59 nm. The average crystal size of bentonite and potassium ferricyanide composite and its calcinized form was around 33.76 nm and 41.05 nm, respectively.

Fluid Characteristics of Biodiesel Produced from Palm Oil with Various Initial Water Contents

Biodiesel is regarded as a significant alternative fuel to petrodiesel due to its excellent combustion features and renewable character. The water content in the reactant mixtures needs to be considered so as to retard the conversion rate and it is suggested to be kept as low as possible. The fluid characteristics of biodiesel might be affected by initial water content; however, the optimum ratio of water content added to raw oil for achieving superior fluid characteristics of biodiesel has not yet been studied. Hence, this study empirically investigated the influences of the initial water content added to raw feedstock oil on the fluid characteristics of biodiesel. The experimental results show that an adequate amount of water content in the reactant mixture was found effective for improving the transesterification reaction and, in turn, the fluid characteristics. The biodiesel made from raw oil with 0.05 wt. % water content added was observed to bear the lowest water content, acid value, and cold filter plugging point (CFPP) and, therefore, superior fluidity at low temperatures. The lower CFPP of biodiesel is attributed to its more unsaturated fatty acids and lower iodine value. In addition, the biodiesel produced from feedstock oil with 0.02 wt. % water added was observed to have the lowest iodine value but the highest kinematic viscosity. The optimum content of initial water added to palm oil for superior fluid characteristics of the biodiesel product is thus suggested to be in the range between 0.02 wt. % and 0.05 wt. %.