Abstract
Typically, sludge palm oil (SPO) which discharged from the palm oil refining process, is a low cost material of potential value, due to its high free fatty acid content. Accordingly, there is potential for upgrading low grade oil into valuable biofuel. In this work, we present a novel method for biodiesel production from SPO. The process consists of two steps (i) free fatty acid (FFA) extraction (ii) enzymatic esterification. Firstly, SPO was saponified by hydroalcoholic solution into soap and glycerol. Secondly, the FFAs obtained were further converted into biodiesel via enzymatic esterification catalyzed by immobilised alginate-PVA lipase beads.•Biodiesel production from sludge palm oil could be completed.•A modified fatty acid extraction was used for SPO fatty acid preparation.•Immobilised alginate-PVA lipase beads were used as biocatalyst for esterification reaction.
Highlights
sludge palm oil (SPO) is classified as low grade oil due to its high free fatty acid (FFA) content (>20%) [2]
SPO is considered as a low cost substrate (1 USD/Ton) for biodiesel production
Conversion of SPO to biodiesel is an effective means of waste utilisation and provides a low cost biodiesel production route
Summary
The FFA and water content in low grade oil causes soap formation during transesterification reaction catalysed by homogeneous alkaline catalyst. One previous study by the authors [13] reports the production of biodiesel from SPO via FFA extraction coupled with enzymatic esterification, using immobilised lipase as biocatalyst. Fatty acids extraction/ enzymatic esterification Fatty acids extraction: alcoholic KOH solution and SPO (2:1), reaction temperature 60 C, agitation speed 250 rpm and 30 min.
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