Abstract
The search for innovation and biotechnological strategies in the biodiesel production chain have become a topic of interest for scientific community owing the importance of renewable energy sources. This work aimed to implement an enzymatic transesterification process to obtain biodiesel from waste frying oil (WFO). The transesterification was performed by varying reaction times (8 h, 12 h and 16 h), enzyme concentrations of lipase XX 25 split (14%, 16% and 18%), pH of reaction media (6, 7 and 8) and reaction temperature (35, 38 and 40 °C) with a fixed alcohol–oil molar ratio of 3:1. The optimum operating conditions were selected to quantify the amount of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) generated. The highest biodiesel production was reached with an enzyme concentration of 14%, reaction time of 8 h, pH of 7 and temperature of 38 °C. It was estimated a FAMEs production of 42.86% for the selected experiment; however, best physicochemical characteristics of biodiesel were achieved with an enzyme concentration of 16% and reaction time of 8 h. Results suggested that enzymatic transesterification process was favorable because the amount of methyl esters obtained was similar to the content of fatty acids in the WFO.
Highlights
The environmental concerns associated with the use of fossil fuels have encouraged the research for biofuel production alternatives [1]
The main drawback of biodiesel production is the relatively higher production costs in comparison to conventional fossil fuel; such costs can be reduced by the use of cheap and available feedstocks such as waste cooking oil, animal fats, palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and Jatropha curcas
The waste frying oil was collected from local restaurants in San Jose Cúcuta (East Colombia) and blended to obtain the oil sample
Summary
The environmental concerns associated with the use of fossil fuels have encouraged the research for biofuel production alternatives [1]. Biodiesel is the most popular alternative energy source to replace fuel owing its sustainability, renewability and reduced emissions [2]. This biofuel is a n-fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids that come from vegetable oils or animal fats [3]. The main drawback of biodiesel production is the relatively higher production costs in comparison to conventional fossil fuel; such costs can be reduced by the use of cheap and available feedstocks such as waste cooking oil, animal fats, palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and Jatropha curcas.
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