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Optimization of Biodiesel Production From Bakul Oil
Optimization of Biodiesel Production From Bakul Oil
1 (2017) 14-18
1. Introduction
Biodiesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable fuel Non-edible plant oil has been found to be promising
that can be produced from a range of organic feedstock crude oil for the production of biodiesel. The use of non-
including fresh or waste vegetable oils, animal fats, and edible oil for biodiesel production compared with edible
oilseed plants. Biodiesel has significantly lower oil is very significant in developing countries because of
emissions than petroleum-based diesel when it is burned, the tremendous demand of edible oil as food and they are
whether used in its pure form or blended with petroleum far too expensive to be used as fuel at present [4, 5].
diesel. It does not contribute to a net rise in the level of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and leads to minimize Biodiesel mainly produced from vegetable oil by
the intensity of greenhouse effect [1]. Petroleum based transesterification reaction. Transesterification reaction
fuel is used extensively by human civilization and the can be catalyzed by both homogeneous (alkalis and acids)
reserve is depleting day by day. Due to the limited and heterogeneous catalysts [6]. Although, alkali-
reserve and the environmental concern alternative catalyzed transesterification reaction is much faster than
renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, tidal, acid catalyst, it is not suitable for BO transesterification
biomasses are being investigated in last two decades. because BO contains large amounts of FFA. Alkaline
Among these renewable energy sources biodiesel is a catalysts are very sensitive to FFA. FFA can react with an
prominent one because this can be produced form wide alkali catalyst to produce soap and water, which
range of renewable sources and this can be used directly diminishes the ester yield [7, 8]. Homogeneous acid
in automobile diesel engine without any modification of catalyzed transesterification reaction is about 4000 times
the engine. Also it can be used in various ratios with slower than the homogeneous base-catalyzed
petro-diesel [1]. Biodiesel is receiving increased attention transesterification reaction and hence is not popular for
as an alternative renewable diesel fuel. It has higher industrial production of biodiesel [9]. Morshed et al. [10]
oxygen content than petro-diesel and its use in diesel proposed a three-step method for the production of
engine have shown great reductions in emission of biodiesel from high FFA containing rubber seed oil .
particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur,
polyaromatics, hydrocarbons, smoke and noise [2]. Biodiesel was synthesized from BO by three-step method
where 100% FFA was produced from oil by
Depending upon the climate and soil conditions, different saponification followed by acidification reactions. In the
countries are looking for different types of vegetable oils final step esterification of FFA was conducted in
as substitutes for diesel fuels. For example, soybean oil in presence of acid catalyst. Various reaction parameters
US, rapeseed and sunflower oil in Europe, palm oil in were optimized. Factorial design was carried out for
South-east Asia (mainly Malaysia and Indonesia) and optimization of the biodiesel production process.
coconut oil in Philippines are being considered [3].
*
Corresponding Author: Kaniz Ferdous, 14
E-mail: engr_kaniz@yahoo.com
Journal of Chemical Engineering, IEB Vol. 29, No. 1 (2017) 12-16
15
Journal of Chemical Engineering, IEB Vol. 29, No. 1 (2017) 12-16
60
20
Oil : NaOH = 1:2
40 Oil : NaOH = 1:3
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
20 o
Temperature( C)
0
0 30 60 90 120
Fig. 4: Effect of Temperature on esterification reaction
Time(min) [Catalyst (HCl) concentration 5 wt% of FFA, methanol to
FFA ratio 6:1, Reaction time 120 min, under reflux with
Fig. 1: Preparation of FFA from BO through
vigorous stirring].
saponification and acidification [Reaction temperature =
100 0C under reflux with vigorous stirring]. 3.2.3 Effect of silica gel on Esterification:
Silica gel adsorb the water produced in esterification
3.2.2 Biodiesel Preparation from FFA: The methanol to reaction, hence the reaction rate is increased. The reaction
FFA molar ratio, catalyst concentration, temperature and time significantly reduced from 120 min to only 80 min
time are the important parameters that affecting the FFA for the desired FFA conversion. The experimental results
conversion to biodiesel. The effect of methanol to FFA are shown in Fig. 5.
molar ratio, catalyst concentration and temperature on
100
conversion of FFA was investigated. The results are
shown in Fig. 2, 3 and 4. From the Fig. 2, 3 and 4, it was
FFA Conversion(%)
80
80 Time(min)
70
60 Fig. 5: Conversion of FFA to biodiesel in absence and
50
40
presence of silica gel [Reaction temp. 60 0C, Catalyst
30 (HCl) concentration 5.0% wt of FFA and Reaction time
20 120 min under reflux with vigorous stirring].
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 3.3 Optimization study
Methanol to FFA molar ratio
Four factors (methanol to FFA molar ratio, catalyst
Fig. 2: Effect of Methanol to FFA molar ratio on FFA concentration, temperature and reaction time) affect the
conversion [temperature 60 oC, catalyst (HCl) 5 wt% of biodiesel production process from BO. To study the
FFA, time 120 min under reflux with vigorous stirring]. optimization of process, a factorial design was carried
out. The experiments were carried out according to half-
100 Replicate of 24 full factorial design. Table 2 shows the
decoding values for methanol to FFA molar ratio, catalyst
FFA Conversion (%)
80
concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time.
60 Eight set of experiments were run for the factorial design
40
and the results are shown in Table 3. Table 4 presents the
values of sample variances.
20
Table 2. Decoding values of independent variables used
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 in the experimental design
Catalyst Concentration (wt % of FFA)
Factors Max. (+1) Min. (-1)
Fig. 3: Effect of catalyst (HCl) concentration on Molar ratio (X1) 8 3
esterification reaction [Reaction temperature 60 0C,
methanol to FFA ratio 6:1, Reaction time 120 min, under Catalyst conc. (X2) 6 2
reflux with vigorous stirring]. Temperature, °C (X3) 60 40
Time (min) (X4) 90 30
Table 3. Design of the experiment using coded value
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Journal of Chemical Engineering, IEB Vol. 29, No. 1 (2017) 12-16
No. of Xo X1 X2 X3 X4 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Si2
runs
1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 98.9 98.3 97.8 99.0 98.2 98.44 0.26
2 +1 +1 +1 -1 -1 67.4 64.7 68.1 67.5 65.4 66.62 2.2
3 +1 +1 -1 +1 -1 91.7 92.8 90.7 92.0 89.9 91.42 1.29
4 +1 +1 -1 -1 +1 74.1 71.8 75.4 72.6 76.1 74.0 3.3
5 +1 -1 +1 +1 -1 78.7 79.5 76.5 79.3 77.2 78.24 1.76
6 +1 -1 +1 -1 +1 43.7 47.9 46.8 46.9 45.7 46.2 2.56
7 +1 -1 -1 +1 +1 54.1 60.6 63.3 60.4 59.9 61.26 1.98
8 +1 -1 -1 -1 -1 42.6 46.7 45.8 41.9 46.8 44.76 5.46
∑ = ∑ Si2=
560.94 18.81
Where Y is the conversion of FFA to biodiesel in Table 5. Properties of biodiesel produced from BO by
esterification reaction and is average value of Y. three-step method and comparison with standard
biodiesel and diesel values.
Y = bo + b1 X1 + b2 X2 + b3 X3 + b4 X4 +
b12 X12 + b13 X13 + b23 X23 (2) Produced Biodiesel Diesel
Properties biodiesel Standard standard
The sample variances were determined and tested for value [10,12] [12]
homogeneity on the basis of Cochran’s criterion. It was Specific gravity, 0.88 (at 0.85(at
found that the sample variances are homogeneous for the 0.82
at 25 oC 15.50 C) 15.50 C)
significance level α = 0.05 and the number of degrees of
freedom ν1 = 4 and ν2 = 8 and the error mean square was Kinematic
2.36. The complete regression equation describes the viscosity 3.87 1.9–6.0 1.3 – 4.1
contributions of the various factors on the outcome (mm2/s), at 40oC
(response) of the biodiesel conversion. FFA content
0.70 - -
(%wt)
Y = 70.11 + 12.50X1 + 2.25X2 + 12.22X3 −
2.34X12 + 3.74X 23 (3) Moisture content 0.05%
0.08 0.161
(%) max.
The coefficients of the regression equation were Saponification
152 - -
estimated and the significance of the coefficients was value
100 to
tested using the student T-test. Only one coefficient Flash point (0C) 140 60 to 80
appeared as insignificant for the significance level α = 170
0.05. Neglecting the insignificant coefficient the final Iodine value 85 - -
regression equation becomes as: o
Cloud point ( C) 3 -3 to 12 -15 to 5
Using the Fisher’s test the adequacy fitness of the
regression equation was determined. With α = 0.20, ν1 = Pour point ( C)o
-3 -15 to 10 -35 to -15
2 and ν2 = 32 the tabulated value of Fisher’s F was 1.7
Cetane Index 53 - -
where as our experimental value was 0.24. Therefore the
equation fits in the experiment.
4. Conclusion
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Journal of Chemical Engineering, IEB Vol. 29, No. 1 (2017) 12-16
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7. Nomenclature
18