Scribd
Upload
37 views2 pages

Testing of Biodiesel

The document discusses an experiment to determine the energy content of biodiesel produced from vegetable oil using calorimetry. The experiment found the average energy content was 17.69 kJ/g, lower than the expected calorific value of 33 kJ/g. Sources of error like heat loss and inaccuracies in measurement equipment likely contributed to the difference from the expected value. The conclusion is that while calorimetry can determine biodiesel's energy content, the experimental setup did not produce valid results due to the inability to account for all heat lost during combustion.

Uploaded by

Marissa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
37 views2 pages

Testing of Biodiesel

The document discusses an experiment to determine the energy content of biodiesel produced from vegetable oil using calorimetry. The experiment found the average energy content was 17.69 kJ/g, lower than the expected calorific value of 33 kJ/g. Sources of error like heat loss and inaccuracies in measurement equipment likely contributed to the difference from the expected value. The conclusion is that while calorimetry can determine biodiesel's energy content, the experimental setup did not produce valid results due to the inability to account for all heat lost during combustion.

Uploaded by

Marissa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Is the energy content of Biodiesel produced from vegetable oil true to the

calorific value?

Aim:
To determine the energy content of biodiesel from its combustion using calorimetry.

Hypothesis:
If the combustion of fuel using calorimetry is an accurate method for determining the energy
content of biodiesel made from vegetable oil, then the energy content of biodiesel will be
similar to the calorific value of 33kJ/g.

Introduction:
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can be derived from animal fats or plant oils. Biodiesel is
produced via a transesterification reaction with triglyceride and alcohol as reactants, forming
alkyl esters and glycerol as products with the addition of a catalyst. Biodiesel can be created
from vegetable oil and methanol with a potassium hydroxide catalyst in the laboratory.
The energy content of biodiesel can be determined through calorimetry. Calorimetry is a
process that can be used to determine the energy content of a fuel by measuring the change in
temperature of the water from the combustion of fuel.

Results:
Trial 1 Trial 2
Mass of Empty Calorimeter Can 42.755g 42.755g
Mass of Can and Water 139.986g 140.984g
Initial Mass of Burner, Cap and Burner 245.832g 245.091g
Final Mass of Burner, Cap and Burner 245.091g 244.440g
Initial Temperature of Water 25°C 22°C
Final Temperature of Water 55°C 52°C

Trial 1 Trial 2
Mass of Biodiesel Burnt: 0.741g Mass of Biodiesel Burnt: 0.651g
Temperature Change of Water: 30°C Temperature Change of Water: 30°C
Mass of Water: 97.231g Mass of Water: 98.229g

q = 97.231g x 4.18J/g°C x 30°C q = 98.229g x 4.18J/g°C x 30°C


= 12192.7674J = 12317.9166J
= 12.1928kJ = 12.3179kJ
Energy per gram of Biodiesel: Energy per gram of Biodiesel:
12.1928 kJ 12.3179 kJ
= 16.45kJ/g = 18.93kJ/g
0.741 g 0.651 g
Discussion:
Through this experiment, the average energy content of biodiesel made from derived from
vegetable oil was found to be 17.69kJ/g. The widely accepted value for the energy content of
biodiesel is 33kJ/g. Whilst the results found in this practical experiment is lower than the
calorific value, they may have been impacted by sources of error.
In order to account for accuracy of results, the experiment was conducted twice under the
same conditions. Although the experiment was repeated, random errors may have occurred,
such as changing the distance between the flame of the spirit burner containing the biodiesel
and the metal can containing the water. This would have affected the amount of unwanted
heat loss to the surroundings, providing inconsistent results regarding the amount of energy
biodiesel per gram. Moreover, systemic errors, such as errors with the scale, resulting in
inaccurate readings may have occurred, causing the final result to deviate from the expected
calorific value. However, despite minor changes to the setup and potential systemic errors,
the results obtained from the two trials were 16.45kJ/g and 18.93kJ/g respectively, making
them precise but not accurate. The results of this experiment are difficult to prove or disprove
by reproducing this experiment as the unknown and ever changing conditions of the
laboratory make it difficult to reproduce the experiment.
The results obtained from this experiment were not valid. Although the experimental design
enabled the determination of the energy content of biodiesel produced from vegetable oil, the
results are not valid as an unknown amount of energy produced from the combustion of
biodiesel was lost as heat. As the amount of heat energy lost cannot be measured, it is not
possible to determine the exact energy content of biodiesel through the setup outlined in this
methodology.

Conclusion:
It was hypothesised that the energy content of biodiesel produced from vegetable oil
determined through calorimetry would be relatively similar to the calorific value. However,
the experiment was not supported as the energy content of biodiesel determined
experimentally was an average of 17.69kJ/g, whilst the calorimetric value was 33kJ/g.

You might also like