Three-Stage Membrane Treatment of Wastewater from Biodiesel Production-Preliminary Research

As biodiesel production as renewable fuel increases, so does the amount of wastewater resulting from this technology. Wastewater is generated during the so-called biodiesel washing, i.e., washing out glycerol and methanol with water. The purified biodiesel must meet international standards, such as EN 14214 or the American ASTM D6751 standard. To fully say that biodiesel technology is environmentally friendly, the amount of wastewater should be minimized. It is also desirable that the purified water can be recycled to the technology. For this purpose, wastewater pre-treated by flotation, during which mainly oils are removed, was subjected to three-stage membrane separation. For each of the stages, the membrane was selected and characterized in terms of its separation capacity and stream stability. Starting with microfiltration, which was mainly aimed at reducing turbidity, affects the permeate flux in the following steps. Then, ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes were selected. These membranes were aimed at reducing the concentration of inorganic and organic substances. Consequently the cascade was composed of: MF-0.45 µm, UF-150 kDa, and NF-characterized by an 80% degree of desalination. The final permeate has a salt concentration of less than 0.15 g/L and can be reused in biodiesel technology.

Determination of Fuel Properties of Biodiesel from Sand Apple Seed Oil with Automotive Gas Oil Blend

The objective of this study was to determine the fuel properties of Sand Apple Ethyl Ester (SAEE) and its blends with Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).using eggshell as catalyst. Sand apple seed oil (SASO) obtained was characterized based on America Society for Testing and Material (ASTM D6751) to determine acid value, saponification, iodine content, density, kinematic viscosity, flash point, cloud point and pour point. Sand Apple fruits were processed and oil extracted using solvent extraction method. Raw eggshells were calcined at 800oC for 120 min in the muffle furnace. SAEE was blended with AGO at 5 – 25 % mix. Data obtained was analyzed using ANOVA at P < 0.05 significant level. Cloud and pour points obtained for SASO are 4.68 and 3.09℃ . Flash point was 103℃ which fell within ASTM D93 range indicating that SASO is safe for handling and storage. Heating value was 42.61 MJ/kg, slightly lower than that of diesel oil of 44.8 MJ/kg shows that AGO has ability to produce heat of combustion than SASO. Iodine value was 80.71 g I/100g while acid value was determined to be 2.62 mgKOH/g, which was higher than that of ASTM D6751 of 0.5 mgKOH/g. Sulphur contents for AGO and SASO–AGO blends were 0.006, 0.009, 0.014, 0.016 and 0.004%, respectively. Low sulphur values indicates that hazardous sulphur dioxide emission of SAEE has reduced. This study established that all the properties obtained, except acid value, fell within the ASTM specification and could suitably be compared with those of fossil diesel.

Production of Biodiesel from Spirogyra elongata, a Common Freshwater Green Algae with High Oil Content

The need for exploring nonfood low-cost sustainable sources for biodiesel production is ever increasing. Commercial and industrial algae cultivation has numerous uses in biodiesel production. This study explores S. elongata as a new algal feedstock for the production of biodiesel that does not compete with food production. The major fatty acids identified in S. elongata oil were oleic (30.5%), lauric (29.9%), myristic (17.0%), and palmitic (14.2%) acids. Transesterification to FAME was conducted using basic (KOH), acidic (HCl), and Zeolitic catalysts for assessment. The yields with acidic (54.6%) and zeolitic (72.7%) catalysts were unremarkable during initial screening. The highest biodiesel yield (99.9%) was achieved using KOH, which was obtained with the optimum reaction conditions of 1.0% catalyst, 60 °C, 4 h, and an oil-to-methanol volume ratio of 1:4. The resulting S. elongata oil methyl esters exhibited densities, CNs, and IVs, that were within the ranges specified in the American (ASTM D6751) and European (EN 14214) biodiesel standards, where applicable. In addition, the high SVs and the moderately high CPs and PPs were attributed to the presence of large quantities of short-chain and saturated FAME, respectively. Overall, the composition and properties of FAME prepared from S. elongaae oil indicate that S. elongata is suitable as an alternative algal feedstock for the production of biodiesel.

Production and characterization of biodiesel from mango seed oil (MSO)

Biodiesel in the past, was once considered a fringe fuel. However today, the production and consumption of this fuel has grown as a sustainable and much more eco-friendly alternative to the Conventional diesel (Petroleum diesel), for diesel engines; if not in pure form, it will be in blends of different ratios, or as a fuel additive, to improve engine performance and ensure longevity. In this research, oil from Mango (Mangifera indica) seed was extracted through Soxhlet solvent process, and converted into biodiesel by the method of Transesterification. This process involved the reaction between the extracted oil and methanol at an optimal temperature of 60°C, and 1%w/v of the catalyst (KOH) concentration for optimal yield of biodiesel. The produced biodiesel was analyzed and evaluated by comparing its physical characteristics to that of Conventional (petroleum) diesel fuel. The properties analyzed were; Density, Heating value, flash point, specific gravity, viscosity, cloud point, water content and pour point. The biodiesel from mango seed oil (MSO) compared excellently well with the values obtained for the commercially available petroleum diesel, dispensed at government approved filling stations in Nigeria. The biodiesel so produced and characterized, was subsequently subjected to an engine test, in a four-stroke internal compression (IC), (diesel) engine loaded between 120 – 200 rpm, to determine its suitability as a fuel. The result was compared with the Conventional diesel characteristics in terms of brake power output, mass flow rate, thermal efficiency, and specific fuel consumption (SFC) and so on. The biodiesel results compared very well with most of the data generated on the conventional diesel, and satisfied the ASTM-D6751 and the EN14214 standard requirements for suitability as working fluid in an IC engine, especially with regard to SFC, which translates to the direct running cost of every diesel engine.

Effect of Catalyst Type on the Properties of Biodiesel from Jathropha and Moringa Oil Blend

Various methods of biodiesel production have been developed in the recent past to reduce production costs. These new approaches may have varying effects on ester quality. Thus an investigation is necessary to determine cost saving measures that do not compromise ester quality. This work examined the effects of a cost saving strategy on Biodiesel quality. This conservative method involved the transesterification of a Jathropha-Moringa oil blend using a blend of two primary alcohols. Three alkaline catalysts were also used. The reaction conditions were: Jathropha to Moringa oil blending ratio of 4:1; Methanol to ethanol blending ratio of 4:1; Alkaline catalyst concentration of 0.5 w/w %; reaction time of 40 minutes; stirring speed of 1000 rpm; Temperature of 60°C and an Alcohol to oil molar ratio of 7.5. Biodiesel samples were tested according to ASTM D6751 and AOCS guidelines. Results indicated that the density, iodine values, flash point and fire points of esters did not vary significantly as the experiment was repeated using three different alkaline catalysts. It also showed that the effect of NaOH, KOH and CaO were not always negative when they were significant. Lastly, the methods applied in this did not compromise ester quality with regard to observed fuel parameters.

Physiochemical properties of biodiesel produced from ogbono (Irvingia gabonesis) seed oil

Biodiesel is a promising alternative fuel and has gained significant attention due to the predicted depletion of conventional fossil fuels and environmental concerns. This study aims to produce biodiesel from ogbono seed oil (using 98 ml methanol and 2g potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a catalyst) via transesterification process and to determine the physiochemical properties of the biodiesel produced. The physiochemical properties of the feedstock (extracted ogbono seed oil) were also determined before the transesterification process. The physiochemical properties of the produced biodiesel showed that it has a density of 0.5±0.00 g/cm3, pour point of 2.0±0, saponification value of 58.90±0.06 mg KOH/g, ester value of 98.0±0.5% (m/m), iodine value of 26.64±0.15gI2/100g, acid value of 0.28±0.05 mgKOH/g, moisture value of 0.0006 ±0.0% and trace amounts of ash content. The results of the physiochemical properties of the produced biodiesel agree with ASTM-D6751 and EN 14214 standard. Thus, it was concluded that ogbono seed oil is an excellent feedstock for biodiesel production via base catalyzed transesterification process

Continuous Biodiesel Production from Waste Soybean Oil Using a Nano-Fe3O4 Microwave Catalysis

In this study, we conducted an efficient microwave-assisted transesterification process combining homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic phases to produce biodiesel from waste soybean oil. A cylindrical quartz reactor packed with nanoparticles of Fe3O4 as a co-catalyst was applied to improve the reaction. The process was carried out with a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 6:1, power of 560 W, and residence time of 30 s. The specifications of the biodiesel produced in this study were compared with two standards, i.e., ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. We found that the continuous conversion of waste soybean oil to methyl ester was approximately 95%. The biodiesel showed a higher flash point and a higher carbon residue content than that of both standards, and the viscosity (5.356 mm2/s) and density (898.1 kg/m3) were both at a high level. Compared to a conventional heating plate, the energy consumption was significantly reduced by nearly 93%. It is expected that these findings will provide useful information for green and sustainable processes for the regeneration and reuse of oil.

Purification of Biodiesel Produced by Lipase Catalysed Transesterification by Two-Phase Systems Based on Deep Eutectic Solvents in a Microextractor: Selection of Solvents and Process Optimization

The most important and the most used process of biodiesel synthesis is transesterification. The main byproduct formed in the biodiesel synthesis by transesterification is glycerol. Biodiesel produced by transesterification is not suitable for application in engines since it contains soap (if biodiesel is produced by chemical catalysis), traces of the catalyst, methanol, metals, water, oil, and glycerides. All those impurities must be removed in order to reach the standards (ASTM D6751 and EN 14214). The most dominant industrial method for biodiesel purification is wet washing, which generates up to 10 L of wastewater per 1 L of purified biodiesel. Therefore, cheaper and more efficient solutions for biodiesel purification should be found. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been already demonstrated as viable options in biodiesel purification. DESs, a mixture of two or more components with a lower melting point than each individual component, are considered less toxic to the environment, non-volatile, biodegradable, and more stable; in other words, they are economically and environmentally friendly in comparison with organic solvents. In this study, purification of biodiesel produced by lipase catalysed transesterification by DESs was performed by two-phase liquid extraction in a microextractor. A total of 13 different DESs were synthesized and used for biodiesel purification in order to find the one that provides the best glycerol extraction efficiency. After initial screening, three DESs were selected and used for the optimization of process conditions for extraction performed in a microsystem. A three-level-four-factor Box–Behnken experimental design was employed to define the optimal process conditions (biodiesel–DES mass ratio, temperature, residence time). At optimal process conditions, the glycerol content in biodiesel was reduced below 0.02% (w/w), which is the value specified by standards (ASTM D6751 and EN 14214).

Non-Edible Moringa Oleifera Seeds for Environmentally Friendly Biodiesel – A Review

ABSTRAKKetersediaan bahan bakar fosil semakin lama semakin berkurang. Hal tersebut menyebabkan dibutuhkannya pengganti bahan bakar alternatif yaitu biodiesel. Minyak biji kelor memiliki potensi sebagai bahan baku pembuatan biodiesel, karena kandungan asam oleatnya yang tinggi yaitu 75,36 –87,49%. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pembuatan biodiesel, penggunaan katalis heterogen serta pengaruh parameter operasi terhadap hasil dan kualitas biodiesel dari minyak biji kelor dengan metode studi literatur. Tahapan yang dilakukan dalam studi literatur ini adalah pengumpulan, pemisahan dan analisis artikel jurnal serta perumusan pembahasan dan kesimpulan. Pembuatan biodiesel minyak biji kelor dilakukan dengan beberapa tahapan proses, yaitu pengambilan minyak dari biji, proses esterifikasi-transesterifikasi dan pemurnian biodiesel. Parameter operasi yang paling berpengaruh dalam menghasilkan biodiesel minyak biji kelor adalah rasio molar metanol dan minyak, konsentrasi katalis, waktu reaksi dan temperatur reaksi. Penggunaan katalis heterogen mampu menghasilkan yield biodiesel minyak biji kelor yang tinggi yaitu rata-rata lebih besar dari 90%. Biodiesel minyak biji kelor telah sesuai dengan standar nasional (SNI 7182 : 2015) dan internasional (ASTM D6751 dan EN 14214)Kata Kunci: Biodisel Minyak Biji Kelor, Katalis Heterogen, Parameter Operasi, Karakteristik Biodiesel. ABSTRACTThe availability of fossil fuels is decreasing over time. This causes the need for an alternative fuel substitute, namely biodiesel. Moringa oleifera seeds are the raw material for making Moringa seed oil, used as raw material for making biodiesel. This is due to its high oleic acid contents, in the range of 75,36% - 87,49% the objectives of this study are to observe the production of biodiesel from Moringa seed oil, the use of heterogeneous catalysts in the production of Moringa seed oil biodiesel, the effect of operating parameters on the yield and quality of biodiesel produced. Literature study was done in this research, including the collection of journal articles, separation and analysis of journal articles, as well as the formulation of discussions and conclusions. Based on this study, there are several stages in the production of Moringa seed oil biodiesel, namely extracting oil from the seeds, esterification- transesterification, and refining of biodiesel. Operating parameters affect the manufacture of Moringa seed oil biodiesel. The most influential operating parameters are the molar ratio of methanol and oil, catalyst concentration, reaction time, and reaction temperature. The use of heterogeneous catalysts is able to produce a high yield of Moringa seed oil biodiesel, which is on average greater than 90%. Moringa seed oil biodiesel complies with both national (SNI 7182: 2015) and international (ASTM D6751 and EN 14214) standardr.Keywords: Moringa Seed Oil, Biodiesel, Heterogeneous Catalyst, Operating Parameters

PHYSICAL PRETREATMENT OF ULVA FASCIATA FOR ENHANCINGBIODIESEL PRODUCTION AND QUALITY

The green algae Ulva faciata was subjected to different physical pretreatments comprising thermal and mechanical techniques at different experimental conditions to state the most appropriate method of cell disruption for increasing the quantity of the extracted lipid and hence improve the quality of the produced biodiesel with low cost. Thermal pretreatment was autoclaving of either wet or dry algal biomass, while mechanical pretreatments include microwave and ultrasonication at different time intervals. The control was the alga without pretreatment extracted at optimum conditions: 60 min, 55oC, shaking speed at 250 rpm, < 0.16 mm particle size with 25:1 v/w solvent to solid ratio. The results showed that the quantity of extracted lipids in case of using all physical pretreatments increased the Total fatty acids yield significantly by about 2-folds of the control for wet algae in hydrothermal treatment with optimum time of treatment 40 minutes, and 1.4 folds for dry algae in thermal pretreatment of the dried alga for 60minutes autoclaving period. The sharp increase by 2.2 folds of extracted lipids was recorded by microwave pretreatment for radiation period (5 min), while ultrasonication showed 2.1-fold increase in lipid yield at 15minutes ultrasound exposure time. Concerning the physical properties of the produced biodiesel after all physical pretreatments, the results indicated that the produced biodiesel had very high quality as all its properties are almost complied with the ASTM D6751 and EN14214 standards. These results were confirmed statistically where all physical pretreatments had high significant effect on fatty acids yield and Biodiesel properties.