A review on biodiesel production using catalyzed transesterification

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

Progress in biodiesel processing

Activity of solid catalysts for biodiesel production: A review

Biodiesel, defined as the mono-alkyl esters of vegetable oils or animal fats, is an environmentally attractive alternative to conventional petroleum diesel fuel (petrodiesel). Produced by transesterification with a monohydric alcohol, usually methanol, biodiesel has many important technical advantages over petrodiesel, such as inherent lubricity, low toxicity, derivation from a renewable and domestic feedstock, superior flash point and biodegradability, negligible sulfur content, and lower exhaust emissions. Important disadvantages of biodiesel include high feedstock cost, inferior storage and oxidative stability, lower volumetric energy content, inferior low-temperature operability, and in some cases, higher NO
 x
 exhaust emissions. This review covers the process by which biodiesel is prepared, the types of catalysts that may be used for the production of biodiesel, the influence of free fatty acids on biodiesel production, the use of different monohydric alcohols in the preparation of biodiesel, the influence of biodiesel composition on fuel properties, the influence of blending biodiesel with other fuels on fuel properties, alternative uses for biodiesel, and value-added uses of glycerol, a co-product of biodiesel production. A particular emphasis is placed on alternative feedstocks for biodiesel production. Lastly, future challenges and outlook for biodiesel are discussed.

https://www.biofuelscoproducts.umn.edu/sites/biodieselfeeds.cfans.umn.edu/files/2009-moser-biodiesel_production.pdf

Biodiesel production, properties, and feedstocks

Mixed convective heat transfer in rectangular enclosures driven by a continuously moving horizontal plate

Effect of ethanol–palm kernel oil ratio on alkali-catalyzed biodiesel yield

Performance enhancement of vapor recompression heat pump

Biodiesel production from Nigerian palm kernel oil: effect of KOH concentration on yield

Global concerns about the depletion of the world’s non-renewable energy sources and the
associated environmental impact of fossil fuel provided the incentives to seek alternatives to
petroleum-based fuels. Nigeria is no exception in the fears for crude oil production going into
extinction as recently stated by the Energy Commission of Nigeria. Alternative renewable fuel,
found in vegetable oils such as Palm kernel oil (PKO), which abound in Nigerian forest, is
characterized with high viscosities thus limiting their applications as fuel. The use of
transesterified vegetable oils as fuel has been yielding successful results besides being a
domestic, renewable resource that provides environmental benefits with lower emissions. In this
work, laboratory scale quantities of ethyl ester of PKO (EEPKO) were produced and
characterized as diesel fuel. KOH was selected to catalyze the transesterification process of PKO
with ethanol using 100g PKO, 20.0g ethanol, 1.0% KOH at 60OC reaction temperature and 100
minutes reaction time. The process was triplicated and average results evaluated. The biodiesel
produced was characterized as alternative diesel fuel through tests for specific gravity, viscosity,
cloud point, and pour point following ASTM standard test procedures. The transesterification
process yielded 92g PKO biodiesel. At 15.56OC, specific gravity is higher (1.033958 times) than
that of commercial grade petroleum diesel (D2). At 40OC, EEPKO had 85.06% reduction of
viscosity over its raw vegetable oil, thus enhancing its fluidity in diesel engine. Higher pour
point (2OC) and cloud point (6OC) were obtained for EEPKO compared to -12OC, and -16OC
respectively obtained for D2. Generally, results obtained were found to be in good agreement
with previous works and within limits set by a number of International Standards for biodiesel.
These findings will find useful applications in energy sector of the Nigeria economy.

Mufutau Adekojo Waheed

Papers

Mixed convective heat transfer in rectangular enclosures driven by a continuously moving horizontal plate

Effect of ethanol–palm kernel oil ratio on alkali-catalyzed biodiesel yield

Performance enhancement of vapor recompression heat pump

Biodiesel production from Nigerian palm kernel oil: effect of KOH concentration on yield

Alkali-catalysed laboratory production and testing of biodiesel fuel from Nigerian palm kernel oil.