Transesterification Of Oil Research Articles

Capacity building in porous materials research for sustainable energy applications.

The project aimed to develop porous materials for sustainable energy applications, namely, hydrogen storage, and valorization of biomass to renewable fuels. At the core of the project was a training programme for Africa-based researchers in (i) the exploitation of renewable locally available raw materials; (ii) the use of advanced state-of-the-art techniques for the design and synthesis of porous materials (zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)) for energy storage; and (iii) the valorization of sustainable low-value feedstock to renewable fuels. We found that compaction of the UiO-66 MOF at high pressure improves volumetric hydrogen storage capacity without any loss in gravimetric uptake, and experimentally demonstrated the temperature-dependent dynamic behaviour of UiO-66, which allowed us to propose an activation temperature of ≤ 150°C for UiO-66. Co-pelletization was used to fabricate UiO-66/nanofibre monoliths as hierarchical porous materials with enhanced usable (i.e. deliverable) hydrogen storage capacity. We clarified the use of naturally occurring kaolin as a source of silica and alumina species for zeolite synthesis. The kaolin-derived zeolite X was successfully used as a catalyst for the transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil (from non-edible biomass) to biodiesel. We also prepared porous composites (i.e. carbon/UiO-66, organoclay/UiO-66 and zeolite/carbon) that were successfully applied in electrochemical sensing.

Plasma Modification of Biomass-Based Starfish Catalysts for Efficient Biodiesel Synthesis.

This study investigated biodiesel production via the transesterification of grapeseed oil with plasma-modified biomass-based catalysts originating from starfish. Dried starfish was first converted into magnesium and calcium oxide through heat treatment and then further modified by plasma engineering to improve the catalyst's surface area and active sites via zinc addition. The Zn content was added via plasma engineering in the ratios of starfish (Mg0.1Ca0.9CO3): ZnO varying from 5:1, 10:1, to 20:1. The structure and morphology of the catalyst were confirmed through XRD, SEM, and XPS analysis. After the Zn addition and activation process, the surface area and the basicity of the synthesized catalysts were increased. The plasma-modified catalyst showed the highest basicity at the ratio of 10:1. Based on HPLC analyses, the optimized biodiesel yield in transesterification demonstrated 97.7% in fatty acid conversion, and its catalytic performance maintained 93.2% even after three repeated runs.

CaO catalysts supported on ZSM-5 zeolite for biodiesel production via transesterification of rapeseed oil

This paper deals with the effect of Si/Al ratio and form of zeolite support on the catalytic properties of the CaO catalysts in transesterification reaction of rapeseed oil with methanol. The reaction was conducted at 180 and 220 °C. To get the intended purposes of the work a various calcium oxide (CaO) catalysts supported on the ammonium and hydrogen forms of ZSM-5 zeolites with different Si/Al ratios were prepared by impregnation method. The results showed that the most active zeolite-based catalyst was 10%CaO/ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 50) system in the transesterification reaction at both temperatures 180 and 220 °C, which exhibited triglycerides (TG) conversion equal to 72.7 and 95.2% and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) yield of 56.9 and 91.1%, respectively. High reactivity of this catalyst is explained by its acid-base properties, crystallite size of active phase, large external surface area and uniform distribution of the CaO on catalyst surface compared to the other investigated CaO systems supported on ZSM-5 zeolites. In addition, the analysis of the product obtained in the transesterification process carried out on the 10% CaO/ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 280) catalyst at 220 °C confirmed the presence of the following methyl esters of higher fatty acids: methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, methyl linolenate, methyl stearate, methyl eicosenoate, methyl palmitate, methyl palmitoleate, methyl nervonate and methyl arachidate.

Comparison of potassium catalysts on zeolite sodium A and X in transesterification of palm oil and active species specification

Heterogeneous catalysts consisting of potassium supported on zeolites are active for transesterification, but the effect of zeolite properties is not clearly understood. This work compares catalysts containing 12 wt.% potassium on zeolite sodium A and X (12K/NaA and 12K/NaX) in terms of performance and physicochemical properties. Both catalysts were prepared by ultrasound-assisted impregnation with potassium acetate buffer. 12K/NaA is a better catalyst in transesterification of palm oil, giving a higher biodiesel yield than 12K/NaX in the first run (99.1 ± 0.3 % and 77.9 ± 2.2 %, respectively). From characterization by CO2-TPD, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and SEM-EDS, both catalysts have similar basicity but different dispersion of carbonates and interaction on the zeolites. The 12K/NaA has those species on external surfaces and more monodentate carbonate than 12K/NaX. Ion exchange occurs between potassium ions from the precursor and sodium ions from the zeolite. Moreover, 12K/NaA is more stable, providing higher biodiesel yields in the second and third catalytic cycles.

Study of the Effect of Using Soybean Oil on Air Emissions Realised from Diesel Engine Performance

Fossil fuel contributes 80% of the word’s energy needs. Whereas, the emission produced by the emission of fossil fuels contribute to air pollution and global warming. Biodiesel as one promising alternative to fossil fuel for diesel engines has become increasingly important due to environmental consequences of petroleum-fuelled diesel engines and the decreasing petrol resources. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of Soyabean oil blended with “Diesel fuel” on the existing engine emissions. In this study, biodiesel was produced by transesterification of soyabean oil with methanol using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as catalyst which was blended with diesel. The ratio of diesel to soyabean oil that was used were; 80% diesel-20% soyabean oil (B20), 60% diesel-40% soyabean oil (B40), and 100%diesel-0% soyabean oil (B0). The study revealed that soyabean oil can be processed into biodiesel through transesterification. Soyabean biodiesel blends produced lower CO, HC, and CO2 emission than diesel fuel while emission of NOx from soyabean biodiesel fuel were found higher than NOx emitted from diesel fuel.

A bifunctional catalyst from waste eggshells and its application in biodiesel synthesis from waste cooking oil

Improvement in biofuel synthesis technology could facilitate widespread utilization of biodiesel, and an efficient operation in terms of cost. Catalyst enhancement through mineralization of waste biogenic material is vital for biodiesel production. In this study, biodiesel production was from waste cooking oil (WCO) using a bifunctional catalyst synthesized from waste eggshells and ferric sulfate. The CaO precursor developed from calcined eggshell at 800 °C for 3 h was impregnated with ferric sulfate at a ratio of 1:1. The Bifunctional catalyst synthesized was characterized using an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The bifunctional catalyst was applied in a one-pot reaction of WCO and methanol to produce biodiesel. The reaction was modeled using the Taguchi orthogonal array design to maximize biodiesel production. The heterogeneous catalyst contained Ca (20.7 %), Fe (18.5 %), S (4.5 %), and O (54.8 %). The identified crystalline phases are CaSO4/Fe2O3 and CaSO4.0.5H2O/Fe2O3. A maximum biodiesel yield of 89.94 wt% was observed under the operating conditions of methanol/oil molar of 5:1, time of 45 min, temperature of 70 °C, and catalyst amount of 4 wt%. The reusability of the catalyst was established for (four) 4 cycles without further treatment. The synthesized biodiesel met the standard specifications. Hence, the synthesized catalyst proved effective in the transesterification of oil with a moderately high free fatty acid, thereby the bifunctional catalyst could expedite biodiesel production from waste cooking oil, and this biofuel could serve as fuel in powering diesel engines.

Predict the characteristics of the DI engine with various injection timings by Glycine max oil biofuel using artificial neural networks.

Glycine max oil biofuel (GMOB) is a product of the transesterification of soybean oil. It contains a substantial amount of thermal energy. In this study, the result of varying fuel injection timings on the performance, ignition, and exhaust parameters of a research engine with single-cylinder, four-stroke with direct injection (DI) diesel was experimentally investigated and optimised using artificial neural networks (ANN). The results demonstrated that a 20% fuel blend with 24.5° before top dead centre (b TDC) decreased brake thermal efficiency (BTE), NOx emissions, and exhaust cylinder temperature but improved fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions (CDE), and smoke emissions. With 26.5° b TDC, the BTE was found to be approximately 5.0% higher while the fuel consumption was approximately 2.0% lower than with the original injection timing of 24.5° b TDC. At 26.5° b TDC, the NOx emission was approximately 8.6% higher, and the smoke emission was approximately 4.07% lower than at the original injection timing (24.5° b TDC).

Effectiveness of empty fruit bunch ash as the catalyst for palm oil transesterification

Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) resulted from oil palm plantations and mills can be converted into ash through open combustion. The EFB ash then treated by simple calcination and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. The characteristics of EFB ash were identified based on its elemental composition, porous structure, and active site size. The effectivity of the EFB ash as a catalyst was tested in a transesterification reaction of Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil (RBDPO) with excess methanol (30 %-w) in various catalyst loads (in%-wt). The lab-scale experiments were conducted in a three-neck glass reactor, which was put on the hot plate stirrer at 450 rpm. The EFB ash performed the best as a catalyst by attaining optimal conversion at 65 °C for 1 h with a 16 %-wt of catalyst load. In this condition, most of the standard quality of biodiesel were complied with total glycerol under 0.24% and ester methyl contents up to 98.9 %. The characteristics tests showed that the properties and active side of the EFB ash are excellent after calcination at 600 for 5 h. The recyclability test of EFB ash as a catalyst showed high performance in two repetition cycles, each showing an increase in the yield of biodiesel, which was 92.21 % in cycle 2 and 91.23 % in cycle 3.

Lipase grafted on magnetic and CO2 dual-responsive Janus nanoparticles for interfacial catalyzed transesterification

Enzyme-loaded Pickering emulsions are a promising system for biphasic catalytic reactions. The monodisperse core-shell Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) P[xMAOAAO-yDEAEA]@RF@Fe3O4-CRL with magnetic and CO2 dual-responsiveness were synthesized by the wax/water emulsion. The catalysts can perfectly steady the oil/methanol Pickering emulsion and produce biodiesel by static transesterification of soybean oil. There is a synergistic effect between the interfacial activation of CRL realized by amphiphilic Janus supporters and the stability of the Pickering emulsions. Under optimal reaction conditions, the Pickering interfacial biocatalyst exhibits excellent enzymatic activity, reaching a biodiesel yield of 87.33 %. Furthermore, magnetic absorption and introduction of CO2 separate the catalyst P[2MAOAAO-DEAEA]@RF@Fe3O4-CRL from the system, and the biodiesel yield is 86.3 % after 6 cycles.

Chemical transesterification of coconut and corn oils using different metal hydroxides as catalysts to determine the chemical and physiochemical changes to the oils.

The transesterification of butteroil has been shown to alter its lipid chemistry and thus alter the crystallization of the fat. The reaction kinetics and resulting crystallization of the butteroil differ depending on the nature of the catalyst used. Modeling the reaction with vegetable oils is a simpler method for the analysis of resulting products to understand the chemical and physiochemical changes that occur based on catalyst selection. The objective of this work is to perform a chemical transesterification of coconut and corn oil using monovalent and divalent catalysts to investigate the chemical and crystal changes that occur. Coconut and corn oil were subjected to chemical transesterification using both Ca(OH)2 and KOH as catalysts. In both the coconut and corn oil samples, transesterification caused monoglycerides (MAGs) and diacylglycerides (DAGs) to form from the most abundant fatty acid found in each sample. Coconut oil's melting temperature, solid fat content (SFC), and storage modulus decreased as a result of the transesterification, and crystals began to form in the corn oil causing melting thermograms to be evident, higher SFC, and a more viscous oil as a result. Using Ca(OH)2 as a catalyst resulted in more MAG formation, and a higher SFC and melting temperature than when KOH was used as a catalyst. The results demonstrate that the chemical changes that result from transesterification of plant-based oils change the crystallization behavior of the oils and can therefore be used for different applications in the food industry. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Bio-Based Polyurethane Networks Containing Sunflower Oil Based Polyols.

This work focused on the preparation and investigation of polyurethane (SO-PU)-containing sunflower oil glycerides. By transesterification of sunflower oil with glycerol, we synthesized a glyceride mixture with an equilibrium composition, which was used as a new diol component in polyurethanes in addition to poly(ε-caprolactone)diol (PCLD2000). The structure of the glyceride mixture was characterized by physicochemical methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) measurements. The synthesis of polyurethanes was performed in two steps: first the prepolymer with the isocyanate end was synthesized, followed by crosslinking with an additional amount of diisocyanate. For the synthesis of the prepolymer, 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) or 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) were used as isocyanate components, while the crosslinking was carried out using an additional amount of MDI or HDI. The obtained SO-PU flexible polymer films were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The so-obtained flexible SO-PU films were proved to be suitable for the preparation of potentially biocompatible and/or biodegradable scaffolds. In addition, the stress versus strain curves for the SO-PU polymers were interpreted in terms of a mechanical model, taking into account the yield and the strain hardening.

Use of biochar as a catalyst for biodiesel production

The economic viability of biodiesel (BD) production is highly dependent on conversion techniques using inexpensive oil feedstocks. In this study, BD was synthesised by the thermally induced (non-catalytic) transesterification of oil extracted from camellia seed (42.23 wt% lipid content). The BD yield from the non-catalytic transesterification of camellia oil was higher than that from the alkali-catalysed process. The BD yield from the alkali-catalysed transesterification of camellia oil for 60 min was 84.1 wt%, whereas that from the non-catalytic process for ≤ 1 min at 360 ˚C was 93.5 wt%. To realise a virtuous circle in the production of BD, this study sought a strategic way to valorise oil-extracted biomass waste (lignocellulose-based). Specifically, this study sought a method for valorising biochar as an effective catalyst, hypothesizing that earth alkaline metals finely dispersed within the porous structure of biochar would effectively enhance catalytic capability. The BD yield in the presence of camellia biochar was 92.4 wt% (saturated at ≥ 240 ˚C). Thus, the reaction kinetics for the transesterification of camellia oil over camellia biochar was catalytically accelerated. Such efforts provide opportunities to enhance economic viability and realise the concept of a sustainable cycle in BD production.

Sustainable biodiesel production via castor oil transesterification using organotin(IV) compounds as catalysts

The rapid reduction in fossil fuel reserves and their environmental effects has caused a serious threat to humanity. Meanwhile, the exponential increase in the usage of fossil fuels demands the exploration of new energy sources. Therefore, this work was designed keeping in view the today need of the World for renewable energy source. The 4-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenylamino)-4-oxobut-2-enoic acid based organotin(IV) carboxylates were prepared and characterized by FT-IR, NMR and single crystal XRD analysis. Due to the Lewis acid character of Sn(IV) centre confirmed by DFT computational study, the synthesized compounds were used as catalysts for the transesterification of castor oil for biodiesel production. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the catalytic performance of the tested compounds was found as follow: 1 > 3 > 2 > 4 > 6 > 5 > 7. The obtained biodiesel was confirmed by FT-IR, NMR and GC–MS. The fuel properties of the obtained biodiesel were also determined and compared with American Standard (ASTM D-6751). Based on their catalytic performance, these compounds might be the potential future candidates for the expansion of catalyst systems for efficient biodiesel production from the various feedstocks.

Nano-CaO as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel synthesis by transesterification of Jatropha oil

BackgroundThis research employs response surface methodology, specifically Central Composite Design (CCD), to optimize the process parameters for the effective production of biodiesel. Jatropha oil was utilized as the raw material to minimize expenses. A nanocatalyst was utilized as a solid catalyst, developed from CaCO3 via waste snail shells, offering advantages such as recyclability and improved catalytic activity during a transesterification process. The developed nanocatalyst was analyzed using various techniques, including dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR). The BET analysis revealed a surface area of 5.1m2/g and the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) analysis provided insights into the pore volume and diameter of the synthesized nano-CaO, showing values of 0.002556 cc/g and 1.1 nm, respectively, indicating the presence of both microspores and active sites on the external surface of the nano-CaO catalyst. Biodiesel conversion was controlled by adjusting factors like the methanol to oil ratio, catalyst weight, reaction time, reaction temperature, and agitation speed. A quadratic model was established to explore the correlation between the independent variables and the biodiesel conversion rate. The results showed a maximum biodiesel conversion rate of 96.73% under the optimal conditions: methanol to oil ratio (6:1), catalyst weight (1.4 wt%), reaction time (60 min), reaction temperature (55 °C), and agitation speed (250 rpm). These parameters were determined through 32 experimental trials. The RSM technique yielded impressive results with a determined coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9834, adjusted R2 of 0.8503, predicted R2 of 0.8309, and a coefficient of variance (CV) 0.75%. Based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA) findings, the model exhibits a high level of significance (p<0.0001), which is less than 0.05 and F- Value 29.71.The study aims to enhance the yield and efficiency of the transesterification process, thereby increasing the overall production of fatty acid methyl ester from Jatropha oil. This innovative approach efficiently generates biodiesel from renewable resources, in a manner that is both environmentally friendly and maximizes the effectiveness of the process parameters. The evaluation conform that the quality of the biodiesel met the standards set by ASTM D 6751 and EN 14214.

Effect of palm oil methyl ester on coconut oil as a viable bio‐lubricant alternative to traditional mineral‐based oils

AbstractVegetable oils are promoted as a base oil for automobile lubricants due to increased concerns about the environmental damage caused by synthetic and mineral oils‐derived lubricants. Coconut oil exhibits excellent tribological properties but poor cold flow properties. This work investigates the effect of the addition of palm oil methyl ester (POME), obtained from the transesterification of palm oil, on coconut oil by blending it in three proportions with varying volumes and evaluating for lubricant properties namely tribological properties, rheological properties, thermal properties, chemical properties and corrosion and oxidative stabilities. Fatty acid composition are evaluated for the base oil and the blends. The findings show that the addition of POME improves the base oil's pour point and reduces friction and wear. The corrosion test shows only slight tarnishing of copper strips, while the HOOT and chemical tests indicate appreciable resistance to oxidation. Therefore, this blended mixture has the potential to be a viable bio‐lubricant alternative to traditional mineral‐based oils.

Electrohydrodynamic processing in biodiesel production from waste cooking oil

In this paper we describe the design, creation, and development of immobilizing calcium oxide (CaO) catalysts onto degradable polymeric mats for environmentally friendly biodiesel production. The polyethersulfone (PES) fiber mats was prepared by electrospinning technique, in which immobilized CaO particles were physically entrapped on the fibers. Immobilized and free-flowing CaO catalysts were later successfully used in the transesterification of fresh and waste canola oil into biodiesel. Entrapped CaO particles in the PES fibers were able to be re-used up to six times in the conversion of triglycerides from fresh canola oil into biodiesel, while transesterification process of waste oil was successfully repeated with immobilized CaO for four times. The use of electrospinning technique allows the creation of a degradable, easily separable and reusable catalysts, which provides a sustainable method for future transesterification reactions of waste oil.

Transesterification of Castor Oil for Biodiesel Production Using H2SO4 Wet Impregnated Snail, Egg and Crab Shell Catalyst.

Transesterification of Castor Oil for Biodiesel Production Using H2SO4 Wet Impregnated Snail, Egg and Crab Shell Catalyst.

Transesterification of mustard oil to biodiesel using activated carbon/Fe2(MoO4)3/K2CO3 as a novel heterogeneous nanocatalyst: Box-Behnken design-based optimization and Gaussian process regression

In this study, activated carbon/Fe2(MoO4)3/K2CO3 was synthesized as a novel heterogeneous catalyst and used for the first time for biodiesel production from mustard oil. The synthesized catalyst was appraised by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX)/Map, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman analyses. The effect of operating parameters including methanol-to-mustard oil ratio (9:1–27:1), temperature (50–75 °C), catalyst concentration (1–6 wt%), and reaction time (1–6 h) on the biodiesel yield was investigated. The optimization of transesterification operating parameters through Response Surface Methodology (RSM) utilizing Box-Behnken design revealed a peak yield of 96.36 ± 0.1 %. This optimal yield was attained under the following conditions: a methanol-to-oil ratio of 21:1, a temperature of 65°C, a catalyst concentration of 4 wt%, and a reaction time of 4 hours. Furthermore, Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) was employed for the prediction of the biodiesel production yield and a satisfactory agreement was observed between the results of RSM and GPR. Reusability experiments indicated that the synthesized catalyst can be regenerated and reused in 4 transesterification reactions without experiencing a significant decrease in yield. The physical properties of biodiesel derived from mustard oil were examined, and it was observed that they were in agreement with ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that biodiesel production from mustard oil using the novel activated carbon/Fe2(MoO4)3/K2CO3 heterogeneous catalyst can be considered as a promising approach for generation of clean energy.

Ultrasound-assisted transesterification of waste cooking oil to biodiesel utilizing banana peel derived heterogeneous catalyst

Scientists are considering substitute energies as a consequence of the increasing global demand for energy. An eco-friendly and high flash point biofuel, biodiesel, can be obtained from different types of animal fats, vegetable oils, and algal oils through transesterification with methanol with the support of a catalyst. The current study focused on exploring a bio-based heterogeneous catalyst, Nendran banana peel (NBP), for biodiesel production from promising feedstocks like waste cooking oil (WCO) using ultrasound-based transesterification. Catalyst morphological characterization showed a microporous structure and shows the minerals like potassium and calcium present in it which help to catalyze the reaction. The resultant biodiesel yield calculated using 1H NMR showed 72.25% conversion. The outcomes of this study showed that the Nendran banana peel can act as a potent catalyst for the biodiesel manufacturing process.Graphical

Technoeconomic and environmental impact assessment of industrial scale biodiesel production process from algal oil using a reusable basic ionic liquid magnetic nanocatalyst

A unique magnetically reusable basic ionic liquid nanocatalyst was designed to convert algal oil into biodiesel. The imidazolium-based basic ionic liquid (BIL) was immobilized onto the magnetic nanocomposite (Fe3O4-SiO2), resulting in Fe3O4-SiO2-BIL nanocatalyst with notable properties of large surface area (21.963 m2/g), high saturation magnetization (28.78 emu/g) and high thermal stability. The nanocatalyst effectively facilitated algal oil transesterification with 96.94 % biodiesel yield under methanol: oil ratio of 8.58:1 and a catalyst dosage of 4.59 % at 60.60 °C for 87.42 min. The transesterification reaction proceeded with pseudo-first-order kinetics, featuring a relatively low activation energy. The nanocatalyst showed excellent reusability for eight recycles. A techno-economic analysis demonstrated that industrial-scale biodiesel production from algal feedstock was economically viable with a minimum payback of 2.25 years. The environmental analysis revealed a low carbon footprint with the emission of 0.074 kg CO2 per kg of biodiesel produced. This research presents a sustainable approach for biodiesel production from algal feedstock facilitated by Fe3O4–SiO2–BIL nanocatalyst, offering both environmental and economic benefits.