High Free Fatty Acid Research Articles

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF UVARIA CHAMAE OIL AND QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF BIODIESEL PRODUCED FROM Uvaria chamae

This research studied the potential of the seed oil of Uvaria chamae for biodiesel production.The oil was extracted using a soxhlet extractor and n-hexane as a solvent before being transesterified into biodiesel. The results obtained showed a low yield of 12.5 % for the extracted oil. The oil showed a high acid value of 14.02± 0.09 mgKOH/g, which indicated high free fatty acid content and the percentage yield of the biodiesel produced was 88.35± 0.5%. The profile of methyl esters showed that unsaturated linoleic methyl ester was dominant. The results suggested that Uvaria chamae seed oil possesses some properties that were suitable for biodiesel production.

Effect of Pemafibrate on Hemorheology in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia and Aggravated Blood Fluidity Associated with Type 2 Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome

Persistent high serum triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels, which are common in metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, are risk factors for cardiovascular events because of exacerbated hemorheology. To explore the effects of pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator, on hemorheology, we performed a single-center, nonrandomized, controlled study in patients with type 2 diabetes (HbA1c 6-10%) or metabolic syndrome, with fasting TG levels of ≥ 150 mg/dL and a whole blood transit time of > 45 s on a microarray channel flow analyzer (MCFAN). Patients were divided into a study group, receiving 0.2 mg/day of pemafibrate (n = 50) for 16 weeks, and a non-pemafibrate control group (n = 46). Blood samples were drawn 8 and 16 weeks after entry to the study to evaluate whole blood transit time as a hemorheological parameter, leukocyte activity by MCFAN, and serum FFA levels. No serious adverse events were observed in either of the groups. After 16 weeks, the pemafibrate group showed a 38.6% reduction in triglycerides and a 50.7% reduction in remnant lipoproteins. Pemafibrate treatment did not significantly improve whole blood rheology or leukocyte activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome complicated by hypertriglyceridemia and exacerbated hemorheology.

Sulphonic-acid functionalized novel Limonia acidissima carbonaceous catalyst for biodiesel synthesis from Millettia pinnata oil: Optimization, kinetics, thermodynamics and cost analysis

In order to overcome the current fuel crisis affecting transportation, expanding environmental pollution challenges, and depletion of natural oil resources, a sustainable alternative to petroleum fuels must be developed. Biodiesel has been accepted as a promising substitute for petro-fuels in many countries because it can fulfill the requirements of the transportation industry. The present research introduces biodiesel production from Millettia pinnata (Karanja) oil utilizing waste wood apple (Limonia acidissima) shell in deriving carbonaceous catalysts in view of waste valorization for green energy generation towards alleviation of its ever-growing demand. The feedstock had a high free fatty acid (FFA) concentration based on proximate analysis, which indicated that an acid catalyst was required for fuel production. Analysis of the prepared catalyst was done by SEM, EDAX, FTIR, XRD, and BET. The optimization of esterification was performed with the RSM central composite design (CCD) experimental matrix, while the reaction time was 1.5 h at 55°C with 4 wt. % catalyst under 650 rpm and 50% w/w alcohol concentration. The actual yield was reported to be 98.95% under ideal conditions. The fuel characterization revealed that KOME (Karanja oil methyl ester) possesses physico-chemical characteristics suitable for biodiesel as per ASTM standards. Kinetic studies showed that the esterification follows pseudo-first-order kinetics with an activation energy of 62.61 kJ mol −1. The thermodynamic study confirmed that the acid-catalyzed esterification reaction is endothermic and non-spontaneous. The production cost of catalyst per kg of biodiesel was estimated to be $0.1649.

Targeting mTOR/YY1 signaling pathway by quercetin through CYP7A1-mediated cholesterol-to-bile acids conversion alleviated type 2 diabetes mellitus induced hepatic lipid accumulation

BackgroundHepatic lipid accumulation was a major promoter for the further development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). mTOR/YY1 signaling pathway regulated many metabolic processes in different organs, and played an important role in hepatic lipid metabolism. Thus, targeting mTOR/YY1 signaling pathway might be a novel therapeutic strategy of T2DM-associated NALFD. PurposeTo investigate the effects and the mechanism of quercetin against T2DM-associated NAFLD. Study design and methodsThe combine abilities of 24 flavonoid compounds with mTOR were detected by computer virtual screening (VS) and molecular modeling. mTOR/YY1 signaling pathway was examined in the liver of db/db mice, and high glucose (HG) and free fatty acid (FFA) co-cultured HepG2 cells. YY1 overexpression lentivirus vector and mTOR specific inhibitor rapamycin were used to further identify the indispensable role of mTOR/YY1 signaling pathway in quercetin's amelioration effect of hepatic lipid accumulation in vitro. Clinical studies, luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay were all carried out to investigate the potential mechanisms by which quercetin exerted its amelioration effect of hepatic lipid accumulation. ResultsQuercetin had the strongest ability to combine with mTOR and could competitively occupy its binding pocked. Along with the alleviated hepatic injury by quercetin, mTOR/YY1 signaling pathway was down-regulated in vivo and in vitro. However, the alleviation effect of quercetin against hepatic lipid accumulation was inhibited by YY1 overexpression in vitro. Mechanistically, the down-regulated nuclear YY1 induced by quercetin directly bound to CYP7A1 promoter and activated its transcription, resulting in the restoration of cholesterol homeostasis via the conversion of cholesterol-to-bile acids (BAs). ConclusionThe hepatoprotective effect of quercetin on T2DM-associated NAFLD was linked to the restoration of cholesterol homeostasis by the conversion of cholesterol-to-BAs via down-regulating mTOR/YY1 signaling pathway, leading to the increased CYP7A1 activity.

Neem-castor seed oil esterification modelling: Comparison of RSM and ANFIS

Even though the desirable fuel properties and enhanced engine characteristics of an IC engine have led to the adoption of hybrid second generational oily feedstock (HSGOF) over a mono-oily feedstock, the high FFA associated with the HSGOF remains a challenge. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Adaptive-Network-based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) were used to model the esterification of neem and seed crude oils (NCSO) with a high free fatty acid content (FFA). The RSM and ANFIS were used to model and optimize input: esterification variables such as NCSO ratio (20–40), catalyst dosage (1.0–2.0 wt%), retention time (1.5–2.5 h), and NCSO/methanol molar ratio (4.5–5.5) to achieve the lowest FFA for the NCSO esterification process and produce composite biodiesel. Optimum acid value (AV) of 2.1 mg KOH/g was attained at NCSO ratio of 20, catalyst dosage of 2 wt%, retention time of 2.0 h, and molar ratio of 4.5. A contrast of the developed models was accomplished by statistical norms such as coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE) with standard Error of Prediction (SEP). The R2 of 0.82522, RMSE of 0.68099, and SEP of 0.21729 for the RSM model (RM) related to the R2 of 0.9982, RMSE of 0.02434, and 0.01992 for the ANFIS model (AM). The AM seems more consistent than the RM in pre-treating and rendering high NCSO for composite biodiesel production. The key fuel properties of the neem-castor oil methyl ester (NCSOME) certified with those of biodiesel international standards.

Phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase ameliorates mitochondrial function and apoptosis in hepatocytes in T2DM in vitro

Liver function indicators are often impaired in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), who present higher concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase than individuals without diabetes. However, the mechanism of liver injury in patients with T2DM has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we performed a lipidomics analysis on the liver of T2DM mice, and we found that phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) levels were low in T2DM, along with an increase in diglyceride, which may be due to a decrease in the levels of phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase (Pcyt2), thus likely affecting the de novo synthesis of PE. The phosphatidylserine decarboxylase pathway did not change significantly in the T2DM model, although both pathways are critical sources of PE. Supplementation with CDP-ethanolamine (CDP-etn) to increase the production of PE from the CDP-etn pathway reversed high glucose and FFA (HG&FFA)-induced mitochondrial damage including increased apoptosis, decreased ATP synthesis, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased reactive oxygen species, whereas supplementation with lysophosphatidylethanolamine, which can increase PE production in the phosphatidylserine decarboxylase pathway, did not. Additionally, we found that overexpression of PCYT2 significantly ameliorated ATP synthesis and abnormal mitochondrial morphology induced by HG&FFA. Finally, the BAX/Bcl-2/caspase3 apoptosis pathway was activated in hepatocytes of the T2DM model, which could also be reversed by CDP-etn supplements and PCYT2 overexpression. In summary, in the liver of T2DM mice, Pcyt2 reduction may lead to a decrease in the levels of PE, whereas CDP-etn supplementation and PCYT2 overexpression ameliorate partial mitochondrial function and apoptosis in HG&FFA-stimulated L02 cells.

The Potential of Banana kepok (Musa acuminata balbisiana Colla) skin on free fatty acid levels in oil

Physically, used cooking oil, which is an oil that has been damaged, can be seen from its brown color, rancid smell, thick, foamy and has a high free fatty acid content. This study aims to determine the potential effect of kepok banana peels (Musa acuminata balbisiana Colla) on free fatty acid levels in used cooking oil. The study used an experimental research design. Free fatty acid was measured by titration with the Alkalimetric method and expressed in percent.The mean free fatty acid level in used cooking oil without kepok banana peel powder was 0.993%, the mean free fatty acid content in used cooking oil with the application of kepok banana peel powder of 0.095%. After giving kepok banana powder, used cooking oil decreased rancidity, the color of brown cooking oil was brighter, the smell was fresher, indicating that there was a potential effect of kepok banana peel on free fatty acid levels in used cooking oil. There was a difference in the free fatty acid content of used cooking oil when kepok banana peel powder was administered (p=0.000).Administration of kepok banana peel powder affected reducing free fatty acid levels in used cooking oil.

Transesterification of Algae Oil and Little Amount of Waste Cooking Oil Blend at Low Temperature in the Presence of NaOH

The present study describes the single-step transesterification method of biodiesel production from high free fatty acid (FFA) waste cooking oil blended with algae oil using a homogeneous base catalyst. Due to high FFA contents, two step transesterification is needed to convert oil into biodiesel and therefore the high FFA content of waste cooking oil is decreased by blending it with low FFA content algae oil, which would further lead only to single step transesterification of low FFA oil. The design and optimization studies were conducted using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The box-Behnken design technique is applied to optimize the three process parameters, i.e., catalyst concentration (0–2 wt%), methanol concentration (v/v) (20–60%) and reaction time (60–180 min) at a uniform reaction temperature of 50 °C. The result of the current study indicates that an effective biodiesel yield of 92% can be obtained at the optimized condition of catalyst concentration of 1.5% (w/w), methanol/oil ratio of 21:1 and reaction time of 110 min at a constant reaction temperature of 50 °C. This analysis clearly shows that this study can resolve the storage problem of high FFA oils from different feedstock and RSM can be successfully used to model the reaction to maximize the biodiesel yield.

Biodiesel Production from Chlorella homosphaera by Two-Step Catalytic Conversion Using Waste Radish Leaves as a Source for Heterogeneous Catalyst.

The economic viability of algal biodiesel can be improved by enhancing the microalgal lipid accumulation and using agricultural waste as a cheap and sustainable source of catalysts. In the current study, the effect of various nitrogen concentrations on the growth and lipid of Chlorella homosphaera were investigated. Furthermore, two-step catalytic conversion was applied to convert the oil of C. homosphaera with high free fatty acids (FFA) to biodiesel using waste radish leaves as a source of a heterogeneous base catalyst. The result revealed that the maximum lipid productivity of 25.0mg L-1day-1 and lipid content of 30.83% were obtained under nitrogen-depleted and limited nitrogen conditions, respectively. The FFA was reduced from 18.79 to 0.76%, and the acid value was decreased from 37.4 to 1.52mg KOH g-1 using a 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio (MTOR), 1.5 wt.% H2SO4, at 60°C for 150min. Under the optimized conditions, i.e., MTOR of 10:1, 3 wt.% of catalyst ratio for 120min at 60°C, the highest oil conversion of 96.61% was obtained. The physicochemical properties of the produced biodiesel were in the range of the standard specification norms for biodiesel. Hence, the proposed two-step catalytic conversion using calcined radish leaves as a heterogeneous catalyst has thus exhibited good potential for biodiesel production using algal oil with high FFA.

Training on Making Solid Soap from Used Cooking Oil in Amol Village, East Miomafo District

Waste cooking oil is heated at a high temperature of 160-250°C for a long time, causing oxidation, hydrolysis, and polymerization to produce ketones, aldehydes, and polymers that are detrimental to human health. Therefore, it is not recommended for reuse. Waste cooking oil in Amol Village was abundant and accommodated, often used repeatedly and then dumped into the environment without any further treatment. The initial survey showed that most of Amol Village's people do not yet know about the dangers of reusing used cooking oil or the dangers to the environment. On the other hand, high free fatty acids have the potential to be converted into soap through the saponification process with a base. Thus, the socialization of the dangers of waste cooking oil for human health and the environment and training on making solid soap from used cooking oil was carried out in Amol Village to assist the community in dealing with used cooking oil waste and save spending on soap purchases. Problem-solving was carried out through several stages of activities, namely observation, preparatory activities, socialization; manufacture of solid soap product from used cooking oil. Those stages were carried out through demonstrations and practices independently by participants, followed by monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. The knowledge and skills of participants have been improved, regarding to handling the used cooking oil and its processing into solid soap.

Postprandial Glycaemia, Insulinemia, and Lipidemia after 12 Weeks’ Cheese Consumption: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Human Sub-Study

Some populations are recommended to consume low-fat dairy, although the evidence behind replacing high-fat with low-fat dairy products is limited. This exploratory sub-study investigated the effect of cheese with different fat content on postprandial changes in type-2-diabetes risk markers. Following 12-week cheese or jam intake, a 4 h meal test was conducted with 37 participants. Test meals included bread and either: 80 g regular-fat cheese (REG), 80 g reduced-fat cheese (RED) or 25 g jam (CHO). Postprandial blood was drawn and appetite sensations registered. Time-meal interactions were not observed for glucose and insulin, but for triglycerides (TG) and free fatty acids (FFA). Pairwise comparisons showed 0.17 ± 0.07 mmol/L (p = 0.044) and 0.25 ± 0.07 mmol/L (p = 0.002) higher TG at 180 and 240 min, respectively, and 94 ± 37 mmol/L (p = 0.029) higher FFA at 180 min for REG compared with RED. Compared with CHO, intake of both cheese meals reduced insulin and glucose (main effects of meal, both p ≤ 0.011) and increased FFA and TG at certain time points. In conclusion, intake of cheese with a regular, compared with reduced, fat content did not affect glucose, insulin and appetite, but increased TG and FFA.

Optimization of Neem oil esterification using response surface methodology

High production cost of biodiesel as well as food-versus-fuelcrisis within the economy have led to the adoption of non-edible feedstock over edible feedstock, the high FFA associated with the former remains a challenge. Esterifying high free fatty acid (FFA) oil with acid is necessary to avoid soap formation during biodiesel production. Thus, this study evaluated the efficacy of response surface methodology (RSM) in modelling the esterification process for neem seed oil (NSO) with a high FFA catalyzed by sulphuric acid H2SO4. A central composite design (CCD) with two level-three factors (23) was applied to examine the influence of Reaction time (60-120 minutes), Catalyst concentration (1.0-3.0 w/w,%), methanol to oil ratio (0.20-0.60w/w,%) and constanttemperature at 60oC on reduction of the high FFA (4.77%) of neem. The Optimum conditions for the esterification process is 0.67 % FFA at 0.4 Methanol to Oil ratio; 90 min. Reaction Time; and 2 (w/w) % H2SO4Catalyst Concentration. Statistics for the RSM model showed that the correlation coefficient (R2) value (0.9457) is relatively high, close to 1, which is desirable and is in reasonable agreement with the adjusted R2 value (0.8969).

Preparation of High-quality Oil from Vegetable Oil with High-free Fatty Acid (FFA) Content Using an Ammonia/Methanol Solution.

There are significant concerns regarding the quality of vegetable oils in the food and biofuel industries. In this study, we explored the preparation of high- quality oil from high-free fatty acid (FFA) vegetable oil using an ammonia/MeOH solvent as an alkali base. Among the six tested solvents, MeOH was the most suitable for the separation of the oil and FFAs. Among the three alkali bases, ammonia enhanced the miscibility of FFAs in MeOH by forming ammonium salts. The amounts of FFAs in the upper layer and oil in the lower layer were positively correlated (r = 0.9348 and 0.9617, respectively) with MeOH. With increasing MeOH concentration, the amount of oil in the lower layer increased along with the FFAs in the upper layer. Using the molar ratio of ammonia to FFA 1:1 and the ratio (v/w) of MeOH to oil 4:3, 91.6% FFAs and 97.8% oil in the upper and lower layers, respectively, were produced from 50% FFA oil. Using a relational expression of FFAs and oil in the upper layer, 97.1% FFAs and 99.6% oil in each layer was obtained from 10% FFA oil. The oil in the lower layer was further purified by extraction with MeOH. This method is easy and efficient for the separation and purification of oil, accompanied by the reuse of reagents with almost no loss of raw materials.

An aqueous olive leaf extract (OLE) ameliorates parameters of oxidative stress associated with lipid accumulation and induces lipophagy in human hepatic cells.

Fatty liver is a disease characterized by a buildup of lipids in the liver, often resulting from excessive consumption of high-fat-containing foods. Fatty liver can degenerate, over time, into more severe forms of liver diseases, especially when oxidative stress occurs. Olive leaf extract (OLE) is a reliable source of polyphenols with antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties that have been successfully used in medicine, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. Using "green" solvents with minimal impact on the environment and human health, which simultaneously preserves the extract's beneficial properties, represents one of the major challenges of biomedical research. In the present study, we assayed the potential antioxidant and lipid-lowering effect of a "green" OLE obtained by a water ultrasound-assisted extraction procedure, on the human hepatic HuH7 cell line, treated with a high concentration of free fatty acids (FFA). We found that high FFA concentration induced lipid accumulation and oxidative stress, as measured by increased hydrogen peroxide levels. Moreover, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, was reduced upon FFA treatment. Coincubation of high FFA with OLE reduced lipid and H2O2 accumulation and increased the activity of peroxide-detoxifying enzymes. OLE ameliorated mitochondrial membrane potential, and hepatic parameters by restoring the expression of enzymes involved in insulin signaling and lipid metabolism. Electron microscopy revealed an increased autophagosome formation in both FFA- and FFA + OLE-treated cells. The study of the autophagic pathway indicated OLE's probable role in activating lipophagy.

Microbiota dysbiosis caused by dietetic patterns as a promoter of Alzheimer's disease through metabolic syndrome mechanisms.

Microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic syndrome, consequences of a non-adequate diet, generate a feedback pathogenic state implicated in Alzheimer's disease development. The lower production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) under dysbiosis status leads to lipid homeostasis deregulation and decreases Angptl4 release and AMPK activation in the adipose tissue, promoting higher lipid storage (adipocyte hypertrophy) and cholesterol levels. Also, low SCFA generation reduces GPR41 and GPR43 receptor activation at the adipose tissue (increasing leptin release and leptin receptor resistance) and intestinal levels, reducing the release of GLP-1 and YPP. Therefore, lower satiety sensation and energy expenditure occur, promoting a weight gaining environment mediated by higher food intake and lipid storage, developing dyslipemia. In this context, higher glucose levels, together with higher free fatty acids in the bloodstream, promote glycolipotoxicity, provoking a reduction in insulin released, insulin receptor resistance, advanced glycation products (AGEs) and type 2 diabetes. Intestinal dysbiosis and low SCFAs reduce bacterial biodiversity, increasing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-producing bacteria and intestinal barrier permeability. Higher amounts of LPS pass to the bloodstream (endotoxemia), causing a low-grade chronic inflammatory state characterized by higher levels of leptin, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, together with a reduced release of adiponectin and IL-10. At the brain and neuronal levels, the generated insulin resistance, low-grade chronic inflammation, leptin resistance, AGE production and LPS increase directly impact the secretase enzymes and tau hyperphosphorylation, creating an enabling environment for β-amyloid senile plaque and tau tangled formations and, as a consequence, Alzheimer's initiation, development and maintenance.

Evaluation of the interrelated effects of slaughtering, drying, and defatting methods on the composition and properties of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae fat

The interrelated effect of different slaughtering, drying and defatting methods of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on the lipid composition and properties of the fat was studied. Blanching and freezing were compared as slaughtering methods, oven or freeze-drying as drying methods, and mechanical pressing or supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) as defatting methods.The different modes of slaughtering, drying, and defatting, along with both binary and ternary interactions caused significant effects on processes yields, lipid composition, moisture content and thermal properties. Thus, considering the defatting degree and the yield in total valued products (defatted meal plus fat), the combination of blanching, freeze-drying plus mechanical pressing was the worst option (51.2% and 87.5%, respectively). In contrast, the other combinations demonstrated better and comparable efficiency, although SFE is preferable for defatting (83.2% and 96.9%, respectively). The content of major fatty acids (lauric, palmitic and myristic acids) was significantly affected by the BSFL treatments, although with unsignificant impact on the total saturated fatty acids content. To preserve the integrity of the fat, the combination of blanching and oven-drying was preferred, as non-thermal methods of slaughtering and drying caused intense lipolysis, releasing free fatty acids (FFA) in the range of 18.6–23.5%. To achieve the lowest moisture content in the fats (≤0.1%), oven-drying with mechanical pressing were desired, regardless of the slaughtering method; while values > 1% were reached for freezing, freeze-drying and SFE. Both differences in FFA and moisture contents caused different thermal behaviors in the samples. Specially, the melting temperature was lower for samples with higher FFA and moisture contents, with a notable difference when freezing, freeze-drying and SFE were combined (14.5 °C vs 30.6 °C, as the mean value for the rest of samples). The different modes of processing did not affect the minor lipid compounds.Therefore, the modes employed for slaughtering, drying, and defatting of BSFL determine, either individually or in combination, the process yields, composition, and properties of the fat.

Room temperature esterification of high-free fatty acid feedstock into biodiesel.

The esterification of a high-free fatty acid feedstock to biodiesel is often performed in high-temperature conditions using either homogeneous or heterogeneous acid catalysts. Thus, this study attempts to esterify oleic acid to biodiesel in room temperature conditions using sulphuric acid as a catalyst and a homogenizer device. The influences of process parameters including the molar ratio of oleic acid to methanol, catalyst concentration and rotational speed on biodiesel conversion were determined in different reaction times. The maximum conversion of 96.1 ± 0.4% was obtained in the presence of a molar ratio of 1 : 12, catalyst concentration of 0.7 mol L-1, a rotational speed of 4000 rpm and a reaction time of 30 minutes. The catalytic reusability test showed that the addition of fresh methanol is required to maintain the catalytic activity. However, the homogenizer-intensify esterification of oleic acid to biodiesel showed better performance than other methods as the reaction could conducted at room temperature and at a short reaction time. The predicted biodiesel properties meet the international standard except for oxidative stability. However, the flow properties revealed that the biodiesel can be used in winter season.

Techno-economic assessment of hydrotreated vegetable oil as a renewable fuel from waste sludge palm oil

To date, the development of renewable fuels has become a normal phenomenon to solve the problem of diesel fuel emissions and the scarcity of fossil fuels. Biodiesel production has some limitations, such as two-step processes requiring high free fatty acids (FFAs), oil feedstocks and gum formation. Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a newly developed international renewable diesel that uses renewable feedstocks via the hydrotreatment process. Unlike FAME, FFAs percentage doesn't affect the HVO production and sustains a higher yield. The improved characteristics of HVO, such as a higher cetane value, better cold flow properties, lower emissions and excellent oxidation stability for storage, stand out from FAME biodiesel. Moreover, HVO is a hydrocarbon without oxygen content, but FAME is an ester with 11% oxygen content which makes it differ in oxidation stability. Waste sludge palm oil (SPO), an abundant non-edible industrial waste, was reused and selected as the feedstock for HVO production. Techno-economical and energy analyses were conducted for HVO production using Aspen HYSYS with a plant capacity of 25,000 kg/h. Alternatively, hydrogen has been recycled to reduce the hydrogen feed. With a capital investment of RM 65.86 million and an annual production cost of RM 332.56 million, the base case of the SPO-HVO production process was more desirable after consideration of all economic indicators and HVO purity. The base case of SPO-HVO production could achieve a return on investment (ROI) of 89.03% with a payback period (PBP) of 1.68 years. The SPO-HVO production in this study has observed a reduction in the primary greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2) emission by up to 90% and the total annual production cost by nearly RM 450 million. Therefore, SPO-HVO production is a potential and alternative process to produce biobased diesel fuels with waste oil.

Quality assessment of biodiesel produced from Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Pride of Barbados)

Alternative energy sources from vegetable products are developing as a response to the depleting fossil fuel reserves and the environmental damage caused by their burning. Among these different possible resources, biodiesel has received a lot of interest as a diesel engine fuel substitute because it is renewable, non-toxic, eco-friendly, etc. This study evaluated the quality assessment of production of biodiesel from Caesalpinia pulcherrima. The sample oil was extracted from the seeds of Caesalpinia pulcherrima using a soxhlet extractor with n-hexane; the results obtained showed low yield of 27 ± 0.1 % for the extracted oil. The physicochemical properties of the oils sample were found to be as follows: Saponification value: 142.87 mgKOH/g, peroxide value: 7.70 mEq O2/kg, acid value : 30.49 mg KOH/g, iodine value (IV): 23.15 g I2/100g, viscosity: 5.83 mm2 /sec, specific gravity: 0.90. The value of free fatty acid gotten was 15.43. The oil was transesterified using two-step transesterification due to their high free fatty acid (FFA) using sodium hydroxide as catalyst. The biodiesel produced was analyzed for its fatty acid profile using GC-MS and fuel properties using ASTM Methods. The Caesalpinia pulcherrima oil obtained for use in the production of biodiesel was clear, viscous, and yellowish in color. The result of the transesterification reaction was a transparent yellowish color liquid (biofuel) and the percentage yield was 71.73 %. The density of 0.86, pour point of -5.03 oC, cloud point of 5.83 oC, the specific gravity of 0.895, the kinematic viscosity of 5.37 mm2 /s, and an acid value of 1.1 MgKOH/g were all within the ASTM D6751 specification for biodiesel fuel. respectively. Results obtained infer that oil from Caesalpinia pulcherrima possesses properties that are suitable for biofuel production using ASTM standard.

Biodiesel production from high free fatty acid byproduct of bioethanol production process

Biodiesel is a reliable and promising replacement of fossil diesel. It is stable, less toxic and can be produced from sustainable resources, including a variety of raw materials. Currently, the most widely used are vegetable oils (edible and nonedible), due to their availability. The present paper considers the potential of obtaining fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) from corn oil, which is a byproduct of bioethanol production process. The ultimate outcome would definitely increase the profitability of the initial bioethanol production process. The biodiesel production process was implemented in two steps, due to the high content of free fatty acids of the obtained corn oil. The first step includes an acid-catalyzed esterification process and the second step comprises an alkali-catalyzed transesterification process to receive FAEE. Two different catalysts (sulfuric acid and p-toluene sulfonic acid) were utilized and compared each other in the esterification process, in order to cope with high acid number of the raw material. A comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of both feedstock and biodiesel was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. The obtained biodiesel was characterized by a significantly lower cloud point compared to the feedstock and high acid number.