Influence of fatty acid composition of raw materials on biodiesel properties.

The world is confronted with the twin crises of fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation. The indiscriminate extraction and consumption of fossil fuels have led to a reduction in petroleum reserves. Petroleum based fuels are obtained from limited reserves. These finite reserves are highly concentrated in certain region of the world. Therefore, those countries not having these resources are facing a foreign exchange crisis, mainly due to the import of crude petroleum oil. Hence it is necessary to look for alternative fuels, which can be produced from materials available within the country. Although vegetative oils can be fuel for diesel engines, but their high viscosities, low volatilities and poor cold flow properties have led to the investigation of its various derivatives. Among the different possible sources, fatty acid methyl esters, known as Biodiesel fuel derived from triglycerides (vegetable oil and animal fates) by transesterification with methanol, present the promising alternative substitute to diesel fuels and have received the most attention now a day. The main advantages of using Biodiesel are its renewability, better quality exhaust gas emission, its biodegradability and the organic carbon present in it is photosynthetic in origin. It does not contribute to a rise in the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and consequently to the green house effect. This paper reviews the source of production and characterization of vegetable oils and their methyl ester as the substitute of the petroleum fuel and future possibilities of Biodiesel production.

Biodiesel production through the use of different sources and characterization of oils and their esters as the substitute of diesel: A review

Homogeneous, heterogeneous and enzymatic catalysis for transesterification of high free fatty acid oil (waste cooking oil) to biodiesel: a review.

Transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel using CaO as a solid base catalyst

Activity of solid catalysts for biodiesel production: A review

Biodiesel fuel, consisting of methyl esters of long chain fatty acids produced by transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats with methanol, is a promising alternative diesel fuel regarding the limited resources of fossil fuels and the environmental concerns. In this work, an environmentally benign process for the transesterification of soybean oil to methyl esters using alumina loaded with potassium as a solid base catalyst in a heterogeneous manner was developed. The catalyst loaded KNO 3 of 35 wt.% on Al 2 O 3 , after being calcined at 773 K for 5 h, it was found to be the optimum catalyst, which can give the highest basicity and the best catalytic activity for this reaction. The effects of various reaction variables such as the catalyst loading, oil to methanol ratio, reaction time and temperature on the conversion of soybean oil were investigated. The catalysts were characterized by means of XRD, IR and Hammett titration method. The results indicated that K 2 O derived from KNO 3 at high temperature and that the Al–O–K groups were, probably, the main reasons for the catalytic activity towards the reaction. The catalyst activity was correlated closely with its basicity as determined by the Hammett method.

Transesterification of soybean oil catalyzed by potassium loaded on alumina as a solid-base catalyst

Methyl ester of fatty acids, derived from vegetable oils or animal fats and known as biodiesel, is a promising alternative diesel fuel regarding the limited resources of fossil fuel and the environmental concerns. In this work, an environmentally benign process for the methanolysis of soybean oil to methyl esters using calcined Mg–Al hydrotalcites as solid base catalysts in a heterogeneous manner was developed. When the reaction was carried out at reflux of methanol, with a molar ratio of soybean oil to methanol of 15:1, a reaction time 9 h and a catalyst amount 7.5%, the oil conversion was 67%. The calcined hydrotalcite with an Mg/Al ratio of 3.0 derived from calcination at 773 K was found to be the optimum catalyst that can give the highest basicity and the best catalytic activity for this reaction. The catalysts were characterized with SEM, XRD, IR, DTA-TG and Hammett titration method. The activity of the catalysts for the methanolysis reaction was correlated closely with their basicity as determined by the Hammett method.

Ligong Chen

Papers

Transesterification of soybean oil catalyzed by potassium loaded on alumina as a solid-base catalyst

Calcined Mg–Al hydrotalcites as solid base catalysts for methanolysis of soybean oil