Alternative Feedstock For Biodiesel Production Research Articles

Dynamical modeling for biodiesel production from grease trap wastes

Grease trap wastes have been recently considered as an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production due to its relatively low cost and availability. These wastes are characterized by a high content of free fatty acids (FFA) and then, its processing towards biodiesel requires an esterification. In this paper, a dynamical model for the esterification of grease trap wastes was constructed. Specifically, this process has been conducted within a continuous stirred tank reactor. Almost all the parameters contained in the dynamical model were deduced from a series of batch temperature-controlled esterification experiments and from thermodynamic essays. The rest of the model parameters have been successfully estimated by means of a proposed algorithm that combines the notion of sensitivity with the Levenberg–Marquardt procedure. This regression procedure provides the estimates in spite of load and temperature variations and processing low-cost measurements. Finally, the proposed dynamical model has been validated with the runs test.

Getting lipids from glycerol: new perspectives on biotechnological exploitation of Candida freyschussii.

BackgroundMicrobial lipids represent a valuable alternative feedstock for biodiesel production when oleaginous microbes are cultured with inexpensive substrates in processes exhibiting high yield and productivity. In this perspective, crude glycerol is among the most promising raw materials for lipid production, because it is the costless residual of biodiesel production. Thus, cultivation of oleaginous yeasts in glycerol-based media is attracting great interest and natural biodiversity is increasingly explored to identify novel oleaginous species recycling this carbon source for growth and lipid production.ResultsThirty-three yeasts strains belonging to 19 species were screened for the ability to grow and produce intracellular lipids in a pure glycerol-based medium with high C/N ratio. A minority of them consumed most of the glycerol and generated visible lipid bodies. Among them, Candida freyschussii ATCC 18737 was selected, because it exhibited the highest lipid production and glycerol conversion yield. Lipid production in this strain was positively affected by the increase of C/N ratio, but growth was inhibited by glycerol concentration higher than 40 g/L. In batch cultures, the highest lipid production (4.6 g/L), lipid content of biomass (33% w/w), and lipid volumetric productivity (0.15 g/L/h) were obtained with 40 g/L glycerol, during the course of a 30-h process. Fed-batch cultivation succeeded in preventing substrate inhibition and in achieving a high cell-density culture. The improved lipid production and volumetric productivity reached the remarkable high level of 28 g/L and 0.28 g/L/h, respectively. The lipids accumulated by C. freyschussii ATCC 18737 have similar fatty acid composition of plant oil indicating their potential use as biodiesel feedstock. Calculated physicochemical properties of a biodiesel produced with the lipids from C. freyschussii ATCC 18737 are expected to meet the European and American standards, being equal to those of rapeseed and palm biodiesel.ConclusionsC. freyschussii ATCC 18737 could be considered an interesting microorganism for utilization in biofuel industry. Cultivation of this yeast in media containing crude glycerol should be investigated deeper in order to evaluate whether it may find application in the valorization of the waste of biodiesel manufacturing.

Acorn (Quercus frainetto L.) Kernel Oil as an Alternative Feedstock for Biodiesel Production in Turkey

The acorn (Quercus frainetto L.) kernel oil is extracted from the kernels of the acorn that is grown in Sakarya which is in the Marmara region, Turkey. Acorn kernel oil (AKO) is obtained in 10 wt. %, by solvent extraction. Acorn kernel oil is investigated as an alternative feedstock for the production of a biodiesel fuel. The fatty acid profile of the oil consists primarily of oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Before processing alkalin transesterification reaction, the high free fatty acid (FFA) of the crude acorn kernel oil is decreased by using acid esterification method. Biodiesel is prepared from acorn kernel (AK) by transesterification of the acid esterified oil with methanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide (KOH) as catalyst. The maximum oil to ester conversion was 90%. The viscosity of biodiesel is closer to that of diesel and the heating value is about 6.4% less than that of petroleum diesel No. 2. All of the measured properties of the produced acorn kernel oil methyl ester (AKOME) are being compared to the current quality requirements according to EN14214 and ASTM D 6751. The comparison shows that the methyl esters of acorn kernel oil could be possible used as diesel fuel replacements.

Scenedesmus sp. NJ-1 isolated from Antarctica: a suitable renewable lipid source for biodiesel production

Microalgal lipids are promising alternative feedstocks for biodiesel production. Scenedesmus sp. NJ-1, an oil-rich freshwater microalga isolated from Antarctica, was identified to be a suitable candidate to produce biodiesel in this study. This strain could grow at temperatures ranging from 4 to 35 °C. With regular decrease in nitrate concentration in the medium, large quantities of triacylglycerols accumulated under batch culture conditions detected by thin layer chromatography and BODIPY 505/515 fluorescent staining. Scenedesmus sp. NJ-1 achieved the average biomass productivity of 0.105 g l⁻¹ d⁻¹ (dry weight) and nearly the highest lipid content (35 % of dry cell weight) was reached at day 28 in the batch culture. Neutral lipids accounted for 78 % of total lipids, and C18:1 (n-9), C16:0 were the major fatty acids in total lipids, composing 37 and 20 % of total fatty acids of Scenedesmus sp. NJ-1 grown for 36 days, respectively. These results suggested that Scenedesmus sp. NJ-1 was a good source of microalgal oils for biodiesel production.

Low-Quality Vegetable Oils as Feedstock for Biodiesel Production Using K-Pumice as Solid Catalyst. Tolerance of Water and Free Fatty Acids Contents

Waste oils are a promising alternative feedstock for biodiesel production due to the decrease of the industrial production costs. However, feedstock with high free fatty acids (FFA) content presents several drawbacks when alkaline-catalyzed transesterification reaction is employed in biodiesel production process. Nowadays, to develop suitable processes capable of treating oils with high free fatty acids content, a two-step process for biodiesel production is being investigated. The major problem that it presents is that two catalysts are needed to carry out the whole process: an acidic catalyst for free fatty acids esterification (first step) and a basic catalyst for pretreated product transesterification (second step). The use of a bifunctional catalyst, which allows both reactions to take place simultaneously, could minimize the production costs and time. In the present study, the behavior of pumice, a natural volcanic material used as a heterogeneous catalyst, was tested using oils with several FFA and water contents as feedstock in the transesterification reaction to produce biodiesel. Pumice as a bifunctional solid catalyst, which can catalyze simultaneously the esterification of FFA and the transesterification of fatty acid glycerides into biodiesel, was shown to be an efficient catalyst for the conversion of low-grade, nonedible oil feedstock into biodiesel product. Using this solid catalyst for the transesterification reaction, high FAME yields were achieved when feedstock oils presented a FFA content until approximately 2% wt/wt and a water content until 2% wt/wt.

Evaluation of single cell oil (SCO) from a tropical marine yeast Yarrowia lipolytica NCIM 3589 as a potential feedstock for biodiesel

Single cell oils (SCOs) accumulated by oleaginous yeasts have emerged as potential alternative feedstocks for biodiesel production. As lipid accumulation is species and substrate specific, selection of an appropriate strain is critical. Five strains of Y. lipolytica, a known model oleaginous yeast, were investigated to explore their potential for biodiesel production when grown on glucose and inexpensive wastes. All the strains were found to accumulate > 20% (w/w) of their dry cell mass as lipids with neutral lipid as the major fraction when grown on glucose and on wastes such as waste cooking oil (WCO), waste motor oil (WMO). However, amongst them, Y. lipolytica NCIM 3589, a tropical marine yeast, exhibited a maximal lipid/biomass coefficient, YL/X on 30 g L-1 glucose (0.29 g g-1) and on 100 g L-1 WCO (0.43 g g-1) with a high content of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids similar to conventional vegetable oils used for biodiesel production. The experimentally determined and predicted biodiesel properties of strain 3589 when grown on glucose and WCO, such as density (0.81 and 1.04 g cm-3), viscosity (4.44 and 3.6 mm2 s-1), SN (190.81 and 256), IV (65.7 and 37.8) and CN (56.6 and 50.8) are reported for the first time for Y. lipolytica and correlate well with specified standards. Thus, the SCO of oleaginous tropical marine yeast Y. lipolytica NCIM 3589 could be used as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production.

Single cell oil of oleaginous fungi from the tropical mangrove wetlands as a potential feedstock for biodiesel

BackgroundSingle cell oils (SCOs) accumulated by oleaginous fungi have emerged as a potential alternative feedstock for biodiesel production. Though fungi from mangrove ecosystem have been reported for production of several lignocellulolytic enzymes, they remain unexplored for their SCO producing ability. Thus, these oleaginous fungi from the mangrove ecosystem could be suitable candidates for production of SCOs from lignocellulosic biomass. The accumulation of lipids being species specific, strain selection is critical and therefore, it is of importance to evaluate the fungal diversity of mangrove wetlands. The whole cells of these fungi were investigated with respect to oleaginicity, cell mass, lipid content, fatty acid methyl ester profiles and physicochemical properties of transesterified SCOs in order to explore their potential for biodiesel production.ResultsIn the present study, 14 yeasts and filamentous fungi were isolated from the detritus based mangrove wetlands along the Indian west coast. Nile red staining revealed that lipid bodies were present in 5 of the 14 fungal isolates. Lipid extraction showed that these fungi were able to accumulate > 20% (w/w) of their dry cell mass (4.14 - 6.44 g L-1) as lipids with neutral lipid as the major fraction. The profile of transesterified SCOs revealed a high content of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids i.e., palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0) and oleic (C18:1) acids similar to conventional vegetable oils used for biodiesel production. The experimentally determined and predicted biodiesel properties for 3 fungal isolates correlated well with the specified standards. Isolate IBB M1, with the highest SCO yield and containing high amounts of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid was identified as Aspergillus terreus using morphotaxonomic study and 18 S rRNA gene sequencing. Batch flask cultures with varying initial glucose concentration revealed that maximal cell biomass and lipid content were obtained at 30gL-1. The strain was able to utilize cheap renewable substrates viz., sugarcane bagasse, grape stalk, groundnut shells and cheese whey for SCO production.ConclusionOur study suggests that SCOs of oleaginous fungi from the mangrove wetlands of the Indian west coast could be used as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production with Aspergillus terreus IBB M1 as a promising candidate.

Bio-oil from the pyrolysis of palm and Jatropha wastes in a fluidized bed

The pyrolysis of Jatropha seedshell cake (JSC), palm kernel shell (PKS) and empty palm fruit bunches (EFB), as waste from the palm and Jatropha oil industries, was investigated in a fluidized bed (0.102m id., 0.97m-high). The effects of bed temperature and gas flow rate on the product yields and properties of pyrolytic liquid have been determined. The pyrolytic liquid product and fractionated oil yields of JSC were maximized at 48wt.% and 32wt.% with increase of bed temperature. Gas velocities of 8–9 Umf led to maximized pyrolytic liquid yield by balancing yield-increasing by much vigorous bubbling and bed mixing in fluidized bed reactor and yield-decreasing by reduction of heat transfer coefficient with increase of gas velocity. The pyrolytic oils from the wastes are characterized by more oxygen, lower HHVs, more nitrogen and less sulfur than petroleum fuel oils. The oils from JSC and PKS contained more fatty acid and glycerides than other oils from lignocellulose biomass such as the EFB, which contained more phenolic derivatives. The finding indicates that they were similar to palm fatty acid distillate from palm oil and could be used as alternative feedstocks for biodiesel production using hydrotreating process.

Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) larvae: A new biodiesel resource

The current energy crisis greatly affects worldwide economic development. Therefore, identifying for new energy resources is critically important. In this study, we introduce a potential biodiesel source: Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) larvae (CML), which are proliferative and can be fed with a variety of low cost materials, such as manure, wheat bran, rotted meat and decayed vegetation. The potential of C. megacephala (Fabricius) larvae oil (CMLO) for biodiesel applications was explored. Oil was extracted from the CML raised by feeding on restaurant garbage for five days. The oil content obtained from the dehydrated CML ranged from 24.40% to 26.29% since restaurant garbage varies in composition day to day. The acid value of the CMLO was tested to be 1.10mgKOH/g. Four factors were subsequently considered to optimize the transesterification of CMLO to biodiesel. The optimized conditions included a 6:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 1.6% KOH catalyst, a reaction temperature of 55°C and a reaction time of 30min. Under these conditions, the maximum yield of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from CMLO was 87.71%. Finally, properties of the FAME were within the specifications of ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 biodiesel standards. Therefore, we concluded that C. megacephala (Fabricius) larvae represent a potential alternative feedstock for biodiesel production.

Effects of some inhibitors on the growth and lipid accumulation of oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides and preparation of biodiesel by enzymatic transesterification of the lipid

Microbial lipid produced using yeast fermentation with inexpensive carbon sources such as lignocellulosic hydrolyzate can be an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production. Several inhibitors that can be generated during acid hydrolysis of lignocellulose were added solely or together into the culture medium to study their individual inhibitory actions and their synergistic effects on the growth and lipid accumulation of oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides. When the inhibitors were present in isolation in the medium, to obtain a high cell biomass accumulation, the concentrations of formic acid, acetic acid, furfural and vanillin should be lower than 2, 5, 0.5 and 1.5 g/L, respectively. However, the synergistic effects of these compounds could dramatically decrease the minimum critical inhibitory concentrations leading to significant growth and lipid production inhibitions. Unlike the above-cited inhibitors, sodium lignosulphonate had no negative influence on biomass accumulation when its concentration was in the range of 0.5-2.0 g/L; in effect, it was found to facilitate cell growth and sugar-to-lipid conversion. The fatty acid compositional profile of the yeast lipid was in the compositional range of various plant oils and animal tallow. Finally, the crude yeast lipid from bagasse hydrolyzate could be well converted into fatty acid methyl ester (FAME, biodiesel) by enzymatic transesterification in a tert-butanol system with biodiesel yield of 67.2% and lipid-to-biodiesel conversion of 88.4%.

Continuous production of biodiesel from fat extracted from lamb meat in supercritical CO 2 media

Waste animal fat is considered a promising cheap alternative feedstock for biodiesel production that does not compete with food stock. In addition, using waste animal fat as a feedstock is considered a waste management process. In this work, an integrated process for a continuous fat extraction from lamb meat followed by enzymatic production of biodiesel in supercritical CO 2 has been developed and tested. The system simultaneously produces two valuable products, namely biodiesel and healthy low-fat lean lamb meat (HLFLM). For the enzymatic process to be feasible, lipase is preferred to be used in immobilized form, which allows easy reuse. The continuous system was operated at 200 bar and a SC-CO 2 flow of 0.5 ml min −1, with extraction and transesterification temperatures of 45 °C and 50 °C, respectively. The effects of methanol:fat (M:F) molar ratio and enzyme stability were investigated. It was found that with fresh enzyme, a M:F molar ratio of 10:1 gave the highest biodiesel production rate of 0.37 mg min −1 g-enzyme −1 compared to only 0.09 mg min −1 g-enzyme −1 using a M:F molar ratio of 5:1. However, when a M:F molar ratio of 10:1 was used, the activity of the enzyme in the third meat replacement cycle drastically dropped to 18% of its original value, compared to 79% using a M:F molar ratio of 5:1.

Biodiesel production from waste lard using supercritical methanol

In this study, transesterification of refined lard in supercritical methanol with no pre-treatment was performed in a temperature range of 320–350 °C, molar ratios of methanol to oil from 30 to 60, pressures from 15 to 25 MPa, reaction times from 5 to 20 min, and agitation speeds of 0–1000 rpm. The effects of reaction parameters were investigated to determine the optimum reaction conditions. The highest content of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from refined lard was 89.91%, which was obtained at a temperature of 335 °C, a molar ratio of methanol to oil of 45, a pressure of 20 MPa, a reaction time of 15 min, and an agitation speed of 500 rpm. Biodiesel production from waste lard under the optimal reaction conditions was also carried out to validate the use of waste lard as a feedstock. Even though waste lard samples contain various free fatty acids and water contents, FAME contents from waste lard with no pre-treatment were found to be comparable with those from refined lard. From this result, it is concluded that waste lard can be utilized as an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production using a supercritical process, thus replacing the high-cost refined vegetable oil feedstock.

Technical feasibility studies for Langkawi WCO (waste cooking oil) derived-biodiesel

A study has been done to consider Malaysian WCO (waste cooking oil) generated in an eco-tourism island, Langkawi, Malaysia as an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production. This paper presents the results of the comprehensive technical feasibility study for production of biodiesel from WCO feedstock. The results have shown feasibility of recycling WCO into biodiesel that is compliant with international fuel standard ASTM D6751. The study has given an indication on the appropriate processing scheme to be developed for recycling WCO into biodiesel as a substitute fuel for diesel vehicles in Langkawi that would enable the promotion of alternative fuel in the energy mix for long term environment sustainability.

Performance Evaluation of Superior Accessions ofJatropha Curcasin Tropical Climate of Madhya Pradesh, India

Escalating petroleum prices and alarmingly depleting fossil fuel reserves have brought biofuel to the forefront of energy crisis management plans in many developing countries. Due to stagnating domestic crude oil production, India imports approximately 72 percent of its petroleum requirement. The best alternatives are bio-fuels (nontoxic and biodegradable) and among them, bio-diesel have immense potential to mitigate the current and future energy needs of the country. To meet this challenging and catastrophic situation, Jatropha can act as an environmental friendly alternative feedstock for bio-diesel production. The ‘Jatropha oil’ can be easily processed to partially or fully replace petroleum-based diesel fuel. Thus, the use of this plant for large-scale biodiesel production is of great interest with regard to solving the energy shortage, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, rural employment generation and increasing the income of farmers. For this, vast area should have to be brought under Jatropha plantation with quality planting material particularly in terms of higher yield and oil content of the seeds. With the objective of evaluating the potential and performance of superior accessions of Jatropha under tropical climate, a systematic research has been conducted at Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur under the national network programme of National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board. In the study 33 accessions were evaluated for their growth performance (height, collar diameter, no. of branches, fruiting pattern, fruit yield, seed characteristics and oil percentage). The trials were established during 2005 in randomized block design with three replications. Growth data was recorded regularly and statistically analyzed. The study revealed that IGAU-1, TNMC-5 and TFRI-2 accessions are performing better among all other accessions. This study will provide baseline information for planning further Jatropha curcas improvement programmes.

Roselle ( Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) oil as an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production in Thailand

The production of biodiesel fuel from crude roselle oil was evaluated in this study. The process of alkali-catalyzed transesterification with methanol was carried out to examine the effects of reaction variables on the formation of methyl ester: variables which included methanol-to-oil molar ratios of 4:1–10:1, catalyst concentrations of 0.25–2.0% w/w of oil, reaction temperatures of 32–60 °C, and reaction times of 5–80 min. The methyl ester content from each reaction condition was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC), the optimum condition having been achieved at a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 8:1, a catalyst concentration of 1.5% w/w of oil, a reaction temperature of 60 °C, and a reaction time of 60 min. The resultant methyl ester content of 99.4% w/w, plus all of the other measured properties of the roselle biodiesel, met the Thai biodiesel (B100) specifications and international standards EN 14214:2008 (E) and ASTM D 6751-07b, with the exception of a higher carbon residue and lower oxidation stability.

Biodiesel production, properties, and feedstocks

Biodiesel, defined as the mono-alkyl esters of vegetable oils or animal fats, is an environmentally attractive alternative to conventional petroleum diesel fuel (petrodiesel). Produced by transesterification with a monohydric alcohol, usually methanol, biodiesel has many important technical advantages over petrodiesel, such as inherent lubricity, low toxicity, derivation from a renewable and domestic feedstock, superior flash point and biodegradability, negligible sulfur content, and lower exhaust emissions. Important disadvantages of biodiesel include high feedstock cost, inferior storage and oxidative stability, lower volumetric energy content, inferior low-temperature operability, and in some cases, higher NO x exhaust emissions. This review covers the process by which biodiesel is prepared, the types of catalysts that may be used for the production of biodiesel, the influence of free fatty acids on biodiesel production, the use of different monohydric alcohols in the preparation of biodiesel, the influence of biodiesel composition on fuel properties, the influence of blending biodiesel with other fuels on fuel properties, alternative uses for biodiesel, and value-added uses of glycerol, a co-product of biodiesel production. A particular emphasis is placed on alternative feedstocks for biodiesel production. Lastly, future challenges and outlook for biodiesel are discussed.

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed oil as an alternative feedstock for the production of biodiesel in Greece

Abstract In recent years, the acceptance of fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) as a substitute to petroleum diesel has rapidly grown in Greece. The raw materials for biodiesel production in this country mainly include traditional seed oils (cotton seed oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil and rapeseed oil) and used frying oils. In the search for new low-cost alternative feedstocks for biodiesel production, this study emphasizes the evaluation of pumpkin seed oil. The experimental results showed that the oil content of pumpkin seeds was remarkably high (45%). The fatty acid profile of the oil showed that is composed primarily of linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids. The oil was chemically converted via an alkaline transesterification reaction with methanol to methyl esters, with a yield nearly 97.5 wt%. All of the measured properties of the produced biodiesel met the current quality requirements according to EN 14214. Although this study showed that pumpkin oil could be a promising feedstock for biodiesel production within the EU, it is rather difficult for this production to be achieved on a large scale.

Transesterification of heated rapeseed oil for extending diesel fuel

AbstractFatty acid methyl esters are well established as an alternative fuel called “biodiesel.” For economic reasons, used frying oil is an interesting alternative feedstock for biodiesel production. The chemical changes that occur during heating of rapeseed oil, especially the formation of polymers, were investigated. Heated rapeseed oil samples were transesterified with methanol and analyzed by size‐exclusion chromatography. During heating, the amount of polymers in the starting oil increased up to 15 wt%, but only up to 5 wt% in the transesterified samples. So during transesterification, dimeric and trimeric triglycerides in the starting oil were mainly converted into monomeric and dimeric fatty acid methyl esters. The amount of polymeric fatty acid methyl esters had a negative influence on fuel characteristics. After 6 h of heating, the amount of Conradson carbon residue and after 16 h the viscosity exceeded that of the existing specifications for biodiesel. Therefore, the amount of polymers in waste oil is a good indicator for the suitability for biodiesel production.

A method of fixing crayon colours

More than 95% of biodiesel production feedstocks come from edible oils, however it may cause some problems such as the competition of land use between food production and biodiesel production. The waste cooking oils (WCO) are an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production; its usage reduces significantly the cost of biodiesel production and has environmental benefits, e.g., a waste recovery instead of its elimination. This work aims to produce a low-cost efficient solid catalyst for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) production using mixtures of refined palm oil (RPO) and WCO. Four low cost catalysts were prepared (biomass fly ashes, natural dolomite rock, chicken eggshells and polyethylene terephthalate - PET), characterized (by SEM, EDX, XRD, BET, FT-IR and Hammett indicators) and tested regarding their performance in FAME production. The maximum yield of FAME achieved was around 96%wt. for biomass fly ashes catalyst at 60 °C, 9:1 (mol/mol) of methanol to oil mixture, 10%wt. catalyst to oil mixture, over 180 min in batch reactor. The results point out for promising bifunctional catalysts able to achieve also conversion of free fatty acids up to 100% using mixtures of RPO and WCO.