Biodiesel Production from Unrefined Rice Bran Oil through Three-Stage Transesterification

V R Kattimani,B M Venkatesha,S Ananda

doi:10.4236/aces.2014.43039

V R Kattimani, B M Venkatesha + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/aces.2014.43039

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Abstract

Unrefined rice bran oil (UNRFRBO) with high free fatty acids (FFA) is used as a source for the production of unrefined rice bran oil methyl ester (UNRFRBOME). Three-stage transesterification process is successfully used. Initially, the FFA of UNRFRBO is reduced to 1% (0.8%) by using two stages esterification process with methanol in the presence of acid (H2SO4) as a catalyst. Finally, biodiesel has produced by alkaline (NaOH) catalyzed transesterification process which has designed according to the central composite design. 90% has obtained at the optimum values of CH3OH (20% v/v of oil), NaOH (1.0% w/v of oil), reaction time (60 minutes) and reaction temperature (55°C to 60°C).

Highlights

Due to clean emission profile, ease of use and other benefits biodiesel quickly become one of the fastest growing alternative fuels in the world.The future of biodiesel lies in the world’s ability to produce renewable feedstock such as vegetable and animal oils, to keep the cost of biodiesel competitive with petroleum.The rice bran oil is extracted from the rice bran, which is a byproduct obtained during the grinding of paddy
50% of the bran is utilized for producing rice bran oil and 19% of edible grade rice bran oil is consumed for cooking, Rice bran oil is commercially feasible for biodiesel production
free fatty acids (FFA) content as high as 4% to 8% has been found [1] in the oil that has obtained from bran immediately after milling of rice

Summary

Introduction

Due to clean emission profile, ease of use and other benefits biodiesel quickly become one of the fastest growing alternative fuels in the world. (2014) Biodiesel Production from Unrefined Rice Bran Oil through Three-Stage Transesterification. FFA content as high as 4% to 8% has been found [1] in the oil that has obtained from bran immediately after milling of rice. Few researchers [2]-[4] investigated biodiesel production from crude RBO by alkaline catalyzed transesterification process. Many researchers [5] [6] used acid catalyzed transesterification process for biodiesel production from RBO and conducted a series of experiments at 1:10 molar ratio of oil/methanol, 2 wt% H2SO4, and reaction temperature of 60 ̊C for a wide range of FFA. Considerable research has been done on biodiesel production from RBO by using two-stage transesterification and lipase catalyzed transesterification process. Preparation of Sodium Methoxide: 0.12 lit of Methanol/lit of oil + Required quantity of NaOH

Materials

Physical Properties of UNRFRBO

Stage 1 Acid Catalyzed Esterification Process

Experimental Procedure

Stage 2 Acid Catalyzed Esterification Process

Stage 3 Alkaline Catalyzed Transesterification Process