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Production of Biodiesel From Vegetable Oil Using Homogeneous Catalysis

This document outlines a study to optimize biodiesel production from vegetable oil using homogeneous catalysis. It describes transesterification, the process used to convert oil into biodiesel. The objectives are to design experiments to find conditions maximizing biodiesel yield and quality according to EN 14214 standards. A procedure is provided for producing biodiesel involving heating oil, adding a methanol and potassium hydroxide solution, washing, and filtering the product. Experimental factors like temperature, methanol-oil ratio, and catalyst-oil ratio are defined at high and low levels for a 2^3 factorial design of experiments.

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Nidia Caetano
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
96 views

Production of Biodiesel From Vegetable Oil Using Homogeneous Catalysis

This document outlines a study to optimize biodiesel production from vegetable oil using homogeneous catalysis. It describes transesterification, the process used to convert oil into biodiesel. The objectives are to design experiments to find conditions maximizing biodiesel yield and quality according to EN 14214 standards. A procedure is provided for producing biodiesel involving heating oil, adding a methanol and potassium hydroxide solution, washing, and filtering the product. Experimental factors like temperature, methanol-oil ratio, and catalyst-oil ratio are defined at high and low levels for a 2^3 factorial design of experiments.

Uploaded by

Nidia Caetano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Master in Sustainable Energies Laboratory of Biofuel Production and Characterization

Production of Biodiesel from Vegetable Oil Using Homogeneous Catalysis


INTRODUCTION
Transesterification is a process used to convert an oil or fat into methyl or ethyl esters
(biodiesel, FAME-Fatty Acid Methyl Ester or FAEE-Fatty Acid Ethyl Ester). When the oil or fat
has a high free fatty acid (FFA) content (high acidity) conversion to biodiesel is reduced.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives are:
1. To draw an experimental plan, based on DOE, that allows to find the conditions that
optimize biodiesel production;
2. To produce biodiesel, complying with the EN 14214 standard;
3. To evaluate the effect of experimental conditions on:
o Biodiesel yield;
o Biodiesel quality (density, viscosity, flash point, acid value, iodine value, CFPP,
FAME content and/or profile, water content, etc.)
4. Discuss the results obtained under different production conditions and propose
recommendation for further work.

PROCEDURE
1. Weigh 115 g of oil (or fat) into a pyrex bottle;
2. Put the Bottle in the thermostatic bath at 65 C, at a shaking speed of 80 rpm;
3. Weigh 1.1 g of potassium hydroxide in a 50 mL beaker;
4. In the hood, measure 40 cm3 of methanol (using a graduated cylinder), put it inside a
pyrex flask, add the potassium hydroxide, close the cap and then put the bottle in the
ultrasound bath until dissolution (about 5 min);
5. After dissolution, add the solution of potassium hydroxide to the hot oil bottle, in the
hood;
6. Shake it vigorously by hand, until it gets a caramel colour (5 min);
7. Put the bottle back in the shaking bath for 1 h;
8. After 1 h, remove the flask from the Thermostatic bath and pour the reaction mixture
into a separatory funnel and allow for separation of 2 phases;
9. Open the funnel and remove the bottom layer;
10. Wash the biodiesel inside the funnel using 15 cm3 of hot water to which you previously
added a few drops of phosphoric (or sulphuric) acid. Repeat the washing procedure
using only water, until the pH of water is neutral;
11. Pour the biodiesel into a beaker and add 1 g of magnesium oxide, stirring with a
magnetic bar for 10 min;
12. Filter the suspension using filtering paper and the vacuum system;
13. Store the filtered biodiesel in a previously weighed flask. Weigh again the flask with the
biodiesel and calculate the weight of biodiesel.
NSC

October 2016

Master in Sustainable Energies Laboratory of Biofuel Production and Characterization


REMARKS:
High level for temperature (A) is 70 C, whereas low level is 50 C.
High level of methanol: oil ratio is 7:1, whereas low level is 5:1.
High level of catalyst: oil ratio is 2% catalyst, whereas low level is 0.8%.
40 cm3 methanol : 115 g oil (B) corresponds approximately to 6:1 (mol methanol : mol oil).
This means that, if you are going to test for:
- 7:1 methanol: oil, you should use 47 cm3 methanol : 115 g oil.
- 5:1 methanol: oil, you should use 33 cm3 methanol : 115 g oil.
1.15 g KOH : 115 g oil (C) corresponds approximately to 1% (w/w) catalyst.
This means that, if you are going to test for:
- 2% catalyst, you should use 2.3 g KOH.
- 0.8% catalyst, you should use 0.92 g KOH.
Run

AB

AC

BC

ABC

r1

-1

-1

-1

+1

+1

+1

-1

r2

+1

-1

-1

-1

-1

+1

+1

r3

-1

+1

-1

-1

+1

-1

+1

r4

+1

+1

-1

+1

-1

-1

-1

r5

-1

-1

+1

+1

-1

-1

+1

r6

+1

-1

+1

-1

+1

-1

-1

r7

-1

+1

+1

-1

-1

+1

-1

r8

+1

+1

+1

+1

+1

+1

+1

RESULTS
Run
Volume
Weight
Density
Viscosity
Acid Value
Iodine Value
Flash Point
CFPP
HHV
NSC

October 2016

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