Abstract
In this study, African crude palm olein (CPO) was used to synthesize biodiesel. The objective was to determine the optimal reaction conditions for the methanolysis of olein. The used CPO had a 5.72% concentration of free fatty acids (FFA); thus, the production of biodiesel was carried out in two stages: 1) esterification using sulfuric acid and 2) transesterification using sodium methoxide. In order to optimize the yield of biodiesel during the transesterification process, a central rotatable design and the response surface methodology were used. The studied variables were: catalyst loading, reaction time and reaction temperature. The analysis of variance showed that the variables with significant effect were the catalyst loading, reaction temperature and reaction time; as well as the catalyst loading*reaction temperature and catalyst loading*reaction time. Results indicate that the optimal reaction conditions during transesterification are: 0.65% catalyst loading (wt/wtaceite), reaction time of 135 min and a reaction temperature of 56°C. The optimal reaction conditions during esterification are: 2.5% weight of catalyst, reaction time of 150 min and a reaction temperature of 64.5°C. Under these conditions, a 90% yield of biodiesel was obtained.
Highlights
Biodiesel is a biofuel obtained from the transesterification of vegetable oil or animal fat with a low molecular weight alcohol under the presence of a catalyst
In order to improve the economic feasibility of biodiesel production, low cost feedstock such as animal fats, waste cooking oil, raw oil such as crude palm olein (CPO) and Jatrophacurcas oil, are promising to replace refined vegetables oils [4]
Variables having a greater contribution on the yield of biodiesel were: catalyst loading, reaction temperature and reaction time, the interactions catalyst loading*reaction temperature and catalyst loading*reaction time
Summary
Biodiesel is a biofuel obtained from the transesterification of vegetable oil or animal fat with a low molecular weight alcohol under the presence of a catalyst. Biodiesel may be used in pure form or mixed with petrodiesel, as a total or partial substitute of diesel oil in internal combustion engines [2]. This offers various advantages over petrodiesel, i.e. it is biodegradable, it is obtained from renewable materials, it has a cleaner combustion due to its low contaminant emissions, it is non-toxic, and it provides a good lubrication of engine parts, among others. In order to improve the economic feasibility of biodiesel production, low cost feedstock such as animal fats, waste cooking oil, raw oil such as crude palm olein (CPO) and Jatrophacurcas oil, are promising to replace refined vegetables oils [4]. It has been proven that byproducts of oil palm can be used for the generation of electricity [6]
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