Preparation and Characterization of Biodiesel Extracted from Acidic Oil: A by-Product of Soybean Oil Refining Process

Abstract

Biodiesel appears to be one of the most energy efficient, environmental friendly alternatives in the recent edge of technology. The present work deals with the preparation and characterization of biodiesel extracted from acidic oil, a by-product of soybean oil refining process. Biodiesel was extracted using two-step esterification and transesterification process from the raw acidic oil. The essential blends were prepared (B5, B10, and B20) on the volume basis for diesel and biodiesel. One specific mixture was prepared using 2% antigel additives (B20+2AA) in a mixture containing 20% biodiesel. The biodiesel was characterized by determining its density, viscosity, flash point, fire point, cloud point, pour point, higher heating value and cetane number as per the ISO norms. It is found that the density and viscosity of acidic oil Methyl Ester were observed to be 1.09 and 3.61 times higher than that of diesel at 40 °C. It is also seen a significant rise in the value of flash and fire point. Quantitatively, it is seen that these parameters are increased by 3 times than that of diesel. Calorific values and cetane number of these blends were not found much differentiating for all the mixtures prepared when compared with diesel. Cold flow properties are also checked. It is observed that cold flow properties were seen to be −5 to −6 °C for cloud point and −15 to −17 °C for pour point for the blend with antigel additives. Different models are correlated using regression analysis for various properties and observed a good agreement with the experimental data.