Biodiesel Production from the Blend of Sunflower, Avocado Seeds and Waste Soybeans

The electrospray characteristics depend on liquid flow rate, applied voltage, electrode configuration and liquid properties such as electrical conductivity, surface tension and viscosity. This study experimentally investigated electrospray characteristics of binary liquid mixtures. The tested liquid was ethanol, which has relatively high electrical conductivity and low heating value as a liquid fuel, n-heptane, which has relatively low electrical conductivity and high heating value, and their mixtures. The electrical conductivity of the liquid mixture decreased rapidly with increasing heptane volume fraction for heptane volume fraction higher than 70 %. The electrospray characteristics for mixtures with heptane volume fraction less than 70 % were different from those with heptane volume fraction greater than 70 %. By increasing the applied voltage, the electrospray mode changed in the order as spindle, cone-jet and multijet below the heptane volume fraction of 70 %. For the heptane volume fraction of 90 %, however, the electrospray mode changed in the order as spindle, cone-jet, asymmetry cone-jet and plused jet. The onset voltage, over which the cone-jet mode appears, was decreased with increasing heptane volume fraction while heptane volume fraction was less than 70 %.

<abstract> <p>Petrodiesel is an unsustainable and undependable fuel owing to its environmental concerns and depleting reserves. Biodiesel is a sustainable alternative fuel to petrodiesel with a better fuel quality and minimum environmental impacts. However, cost-effective biodiesel production requires the use of a sustainable feedstock and process optimization. This study explored biodiesel yield optimization from mixed microalgae oil (MO) and waste cooking oil (WCO). The use of mixed feedstock for biodiesel production relieves the rising demands; lowers feedstock costs; and improves the fuel quality, engine performance, and pollutants emission characteristics. MO was extracted from dried microalgae biomass by the Soxhlet method using hexane. The MO and WCO were purified and characterized, and an oil blend with suitable properties (best in kinematic viscosity, density, higher heating value, and acid value compared to other blends) was selected. The transesterification experiments designed by central composite design were optimized using the response surface methodology. Experimental results underwent regression analysis to develop a quadratic model equation for predicting the optimum level of parameters and biodiesel yield. Model fitness and variables effects on biodiesel yield were studied using analysis of variance. The optimization experiment achieved 98.82% oil conversion rate at the catalyst loading of 2.0 w/v%, molar ratio of 12:1 v/v, reaction temperature of 60 ℃, and reaction time of 100 min. A triplicate validation experiments achieved 97.72% conversion rate, which is very close to the model predicted result (99.1%). Biodiesel from MO-WCO showed a better cetane number (77.76), iodine value (12.90 gI<sub>2</sub>/100 g), acid value (0.049 mg KOH/g), HHV (43.25 MJ/kg), kinematic viscosity (4.50 mm<sup>2</sup>/s), pour point (–2.5 ℃), and flash point (180 ℃). In conclusion, the study revealed that transesterification of blended MO-WCO led to a maximum biodiesel and the reaction time and temperature were found to be the most significant factors affecting the yield of biodiesel. Furthermore, biodiesel from blended MO-WCO is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative fuel source which can contribute towards a promising industrial scale biodiesel production in the future.</p> </abstract>

Simultaneous production of gaseous and liquid biofuels from the synergetic co-valorisation of bio-oil and crude glycerol in supercritical water

With the increasing amount of waste together with the high development of the country, the high amount of waste needed to be treated properly in order to lower the impact to the environment. Waste to Energy through incineration is considered as the appropriated technology to convert green and clean energy from discard matters, especially for the waste that has the mixing composition and has not segregate its composition in the developing country. Therefore, it is essential to simulate its combustion process to see how much of electrical power that can be generated and purpose the appropriated technic in order to improve its efficiency. This research deals with the process simulation of using incineration technology with high moisture content and low heating value in developing country. The simulation of 500 ton per day incineration technology was conducted by the unit operation in Aspen Plus® program in order to forecast the capacity of electricity production and the contaminants in flue gas emission. It was found that, even high moisture content and low heating value of waste, incineration can be one of the solutions to dispose waste properly and can recover green and clean energy in the form of electricity ranging from 3.78-6.29 MWe depending on waste’s quality. This green and clean energy recovery from waste could be used to reduce the using of fossil fuel in order to mitigate the emission of the greenhouse gas to atmosphere.

Investigation of ethyl biodiesel via transesterification of rice bran oil: bioenergy from residual biomass in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil

An expeditious methodology for estimating the exergy of woody biomass by means of heating values

Wastewater discharge from restaurants, hotels, household kitchens, confectionaries, meat, fruits, and vegetable processing units contain free fatty acids (FFAs) from fats, oils, and greases (FOG). These FFAs are one of the major causes of sewer overflows and blockages that cause health and environmental issues. This study has investigated the use of sewer wastewater as a source of lipids for the production of alkyl esters (Biodiesel) and provides a characterization of the resulting processed water. Amberlyst A21 basic resin in a column reactor was used to recover the FFAs by adsorption from an oily layer collected from the domestic wastewater drain (Chakri drain, Rawalpindi, Pakistan) having a 33.0 ± 2.08% oily fraction with 59.7 ± 1.1% FFAs. The recovered ethanol washed FFAs from the Amberlyst A21 surface were then turned into Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters (FAEEs) in the presence of an acidic resin catalyst Amberlyst 15. The esterification reaction was studied at temperatures 50, 60, and 70°C, molar ratios of 1:2 to 1:3, acidic resin weight % of 2 to 6, and reaction time of 2 to 8 hr, respectively. A maximum FFAs conversion into esters of 91.38 ± 1.13% was noted at an esterification temperature of 70°C, molar ratio of 1:3, acidic resin weight of 6%, and a reaction time of 8 h. The fractional distillation of the esterified reaction product at 100°C improved the ester content in the reaction mixture up to 96.6 ± 0.18%, with a distilled biodiesel yield of 95.52 ± 0.21%. The collected top oily layer from sewer drain wastewater was found to have a density 947.31 kg/m3, kinematic viscosity 32.69 mm2/sec, flash point 283°C, and LHV and HHV of 26 and 28 MJ/kg, respectively, while for the produced biodiesel the density was 886 kg/m3, kinematic viscosity 4.3 mm2/sec, flash point 137°C, and LHV and HHV of 39 and 41 MJ/kg was noted, respectively. Only oily layer free wastewater after passing through PAC was found to meet Pakistan NEQS, with COD <150 mg/L, pH 6–8, Alkalinity <1000 mg/L, and Ammonia-nitrogen <40 mg/L. For every 1000 gallons of domestic sewer drain wastewater treated per 8 h work shift or 3 work shifts in a day with FFAs recovered and their conversion into biodiesel, a net profit of 54.89 and 93.32 million Pakistani rupees can be gained in the first year and then in successive years, respectively. Thus, this research provides a way to produce renewable energy fuel, biodiesel from the waste lipids (FFAs) of wastewater drains to meet the energy requirements and a solution for the conservation of water bodies.

Sorting efficiency and combustion properties of municipal solid waste during bio-drying

Forest dendromass is still the major raw material in the production of solid biofuels, which are still the most important feedstock in the structure of primary energy production from renewable energy sources. Because of the high species and type diversity of production residues generated at wood processing sites, as well as at logging sites, the quality of commercial solid biomass produced there has to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the thermophysical characteristics and the elemental composition of ten types of commercial solid biofuels (pinewood sawdust; energy chips I, II, and III; veneer sheets; shavings; birch bark; pine bark; pulp chips; and veneer chips), depending on their acquisition time (August, October, December, February, April, and June). Pulp chips had the significantly lowest moisture content (mean 26.92%), ash content (mean 0.39% DM—dry matter), nitrogen (N) content (mean 0.11% DM), and sulfur (S) content (mean 0.011% DM) and the highest carbon (C) content (mean 56.09% DM), hydrogen (H) content (6.40% DM), and lower heating value (LHV) (mean 13.61 GJ Mg−1). The three types of energy chips (I, II, and III) had good energy parameters, especially regarding their satisfactory LHV and ash, S, and N content. On the other hand, pine and birch bark had the worst ash, S, and N contents, although they had beneficial higher heating values (HHVs) and C contents. Solid biofuels acquired in summer (June) had the lowest levels of moisture and ash and the highest LHV. The highest moisture content and the lowest LHV were found in winter (December).

Date Palm Byproducts for Green Fuels and Bioenergy Production

Effect of pyrolysis temperature and biomass particle size on the heating value of biocoal and optimization using response surface methodology

Short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) have the potential to make substantial contributions to the supply of biomass feedstock for the production of biofuels and bioproducts. This study evaluated changes in the fuel quality (moisture, ash, and heating value) of stored spring harvested shrub willow (Salix spp.) and hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) chips with respect to pile protection treatments, location within the storage piles, and length of storage. Leaf-on willow and poplar were harvested in the spring, and wood chips and foliage with moisture content in the range of 42.1% to 49.9% (w.b.) were stored in piles for five months, from May to October 2016. Three protection treatments were randomly assigned to the piles. The control treatment had no cover (NC), so piles were exposed to direct solar radiation and rainfall. The second treatment had a canopy (C) installed above the piles to limit direct rainfall. The final treatment had a canopy plus a dome aeration system (CD) installed over the piles. Covering piles reduced and maintained the low moisture content in wood chip piles. Within 30 days of establishment, the moisture content in the core of the C pile decreased to less than 30%, and was maintained between 24%–26% until the end of the storage period. Conversely, the moisture content in the NC piles decreased in the first two months, but then increased to the original moisture content in the core (&gt;45 cm deep) and up to 70% of the original moisture content in the shell (&lt;45 cm deep). For all the treatments in the tested conditions, the core material dried faster than the shell material. The higher heating value (HHV) across all the treatments increased slightly from 18.31 ± 0.06 MJ/kg at harvest to 18.76 ± 0.21 MJ/kg at the end of the storage period. The lower heating value (LHV) increased by about 50% in the C and CD piles by the end of the storage period. However, in the NC piles, the LHV decreased by 3% in the core and 52% in the shell. Leaf-on SRWC biomass stored in piles created in late spring under climatic conditions in central and northern New York showed differing moisture contents when stored for over 60–90 days. Overhead protection could be used to preserve or improve the fuel quality in terms of the moisture content and heating value if more than two months of storage are required. However, the implementation of such management practice will depend on whether the end users are willing to pay a higher price for dryer biomass and biomass with a higher LHV.

Prediction of the physico-chemical properties of vegetable oils using optimal non-linear polynomials

Most of the energy today is obtained from fossil fuels, which are becoming more expensive and less available. Energy from biomass produced on agricultural land is an alternative option. Energy crops should guarantee high yield and good quality parameters, associated with their use in energy production. This study analysed the thermophysical and chemical properties of biomass obtained from 15 new clones of willow selected in the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. The plants were cultivated in one- and three-year rotation cycles, run in 2009-2011 at two research stations: in Baldy and in Łezany. The energy content as well as elemental and physical properties of biomass were analysed. The higher heating value was better in biomass from one-year shoots (on average 19.66 MJ kg -1 d.m.). The highest value of this parameter was recorded for the clone of Salix acutifolia UWM 093 (20.04 MJ kg-1 d.m.). The higher heating value in biomass of three-year old clones was on average lower by 0.06 MJ kg -1 d.m. The lower heating value in biomass increased in longer willow coppice harvest cycles. The highest lower heating value was recorded for the clone UWM 035 of Salix pentandra (9.27 MJ kg -1 ) harvested in a three-year cycle, whereas the lowest one was achieved by the clone of Salix dasyclados UWM 155 (7.55 MJ kg -1 ) harvested in a one-year cycle. The average moisture content in three-year shoots was 50.01% d.m., being higher by 2.31% in one-year shoots. The ash content was lower in biomass harvested in three-year rotation. In conclusion, willow biomass obtained in a three-year harvest cycle contains less of undesirable elements and proves to be better quality fuel than biomass obtained in a one-year harvest cycle.

LHV and HHV prediction model using regression analysis with the help of bond energies for biodiesel