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Author

Shalini Palani

Other affiliations: Saint Peter's University
Bio: Shalini Palani is an academic researcher from VIT University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biodiesel & Transesterification. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 7 publications receiving 18 citations. Previous affiliations of Shalini Palani include Saint Peter's University.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
30 Jul 2020
TL;DR: In this paper, a co-solvent based transesterification was used to produce biodiesel from waste beef tallow using cosolvent-based transterification. But the results showed that the fuel properties of TMEE were superior than compared to tallow methyl esters and was accounted by presence of ethyl esters.
Abstract: This present study deals with production of biodiesel from waste beef tallow using co-solvent based transesterification. Waste tallow was dry rendered from discarded fleshing and processing wastes; whose maximum fat content was estimated to be 48.35 ± 0.87%, collectively. Following this, biodiesel was produced from rendered tallow using methanol as primary solvent; and ethanol as co-solvent in presence of potassium hydroxide as base catalyst. Ideal range for reaction parameters were decided based on reaction parameters optimized for methanol based and ethanol based transesterification separately. Accordingly, the optimal reaction conditions for methanol-ethanol based transesterification are as follows: (1) oil to alcohol molar ratio: 1:6; (2) methanol to ethanol molar ratio: 3/3; (3) catalyst concentration: 0.55% KOH; (4) reaction temperature: 70 °C; (5) reaction time: 35 min and produced a maximum yield of 97.2 ± 1.08%. Apart from production optimization, the resultant biodiesel/tallow methyl ethyl ester (TMEE) was evaluated for its thermal & physicochemical properties as per ASTM D6751 standards. Interestingly, the fuel properties of TMEE were found to be superior than compared to tallow methyl esters and was accounted by presence of ethyl esters in them.

20 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of dominant fatty acid esters of waste animal fat biodiesel on its emission characteristics in CI engine was analyzed using GC spectra and the results showed that high exhaust gas temperature was contributed by Ethyl oleate (1.15% lesser than biodiesel), as a result of low cetane number due to unsaturation and high viscosity.
Abstract: This present study aims in understanding the influence of dominant fatty acid esters of waste animal fat biodiesel on its emission characteristics in CI engine. Biodiesel was produced from waste animal fat by means of base catalysed transesterification; and Ethyl oleate (40.21%), ethyl palmitate (25.36%) and ethyl stearate (16.87%) were characterized as dominant fatty acid esters using GC spectra. Test samples were prepared for these ester molecules based on their availability, in addition to biodiesel blend and plain diesel and were tested for their emission levels in single cylinder four stroke CI engine using flue gas analyser. High exhaust gas temperature was contributed by Ethyl oleate (1.15% lesser than biodiesel), as a result of low cetane number due to unsaturation and high viscosity. Likewise, the increased carbon chain length and unsaturation of ethyl oleate (2.55% lesser than biodiesel) resulted in high concentration of CO emission for biodiesel whereas high CO2 emission concentration was because of ester molecules with increased carbon chain length (stearate and Oleate esters). Reduced NOX emission for biodiesel was as a result of higher cetane number from ethyl stearate (CN=86.83) and ethyl palmitate (CN=86.55), which reduced its ignition delay thereby moderating the heat release rate. In addition, long carbon chained ester molecules (oleate and stearate esters) in biodiesel consumed more oxygen content for improving overall rate of combustion while increased HC emission was explained by unsaturation in biodiesel because of ethyl oleate (on average ,50 PPM).

19 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the engine characteristics of beef tallow biodiesel (tallow methyl ethyl ester) produced using methanol-ethanol-based co-solvent transesterification were investigated.
Abstract: This present study looks at the engine characteristics of beef tallow biodiesel (tallow methyl ethyl ester) produced using methanol–ethanol-based co-solvent transesterification. Unblended samples o...

6 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the synthesis of biodiesel from waste animal fats by the means of methyl-based transesterification was carried out by investigating various operating parameters like oil/alcohol molar ratio, catalyst concentration, temperature and reaction time and optimising them.
Abstract: The fleshings produced during the pre-tanning process in tanneries and animal wastes generated from slaughter house are causing serious environmental concern because of improper disposal techniques. These solid wastes contain fat and proteins which can be recovered for wide variety of applications. The fats extracted from these wastes are used as feedstock for the production of biodiesel, which serves as an alternate for conventional diesel fuel because of their sustainability. The use of these animal fats ruled out the issues over the ‘Food versus Fuel’ conflict, as edible feed stocks were used in the production of biodiesel earlier. This work projects on the synthesis of biodiesel from waste animal fats by the means of methyl-based transesterification. A maximum fat recovery of 85% was achieved by the means of autoclave heat treatment method. The refining of fat was carried out by following acid degumming, where Orthophosphoric acid was mixed with the fat to remove the phospholipids as residues. Pretreatment of the extracted fat was done using glycerolysis, where the FFA % of these fats were reduced from 7% to 0.25% with a recorded efficiency of 96.4%. Alkali catalysed transesterification was carried out by investigating various operating parameters like oil/alcohol molar ratio, catalyst concentration, temperature and reaction time and optimising them. The optimised process parameters produced a maximum yield of 94% biodiesel. The fuel properties of the produced biodiesel were compared with the ordinary diesel fuel based on both ASTM D-6751 and IS 15607: 2005 standards.

5 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the degradation of crude oil using biodiesel from two different sources having different degree of saturation was studied, which is used to degrade the crude oil by dissolve the complex hydrocarbon chains in it, thereby reducing its viscosity and enhancing its handling.
Abstract: This paper deals with the study of degradation of crude oil using biodiesel from two different sources having different degree of saturation. Biodiesel is normally produced for meeting the energy demand in the market, can also be used for the degradation purpose because of its solvent nature on hydrocarbons. This property is used to degrade the crude oil by dissolve the complex hydrocarbon chains in it, thereby reducing its viscosity and enhancing its handling. The feedstocks used for biodiesel production are oil from seeds of Mimusops elengi (unsaturated oil) and waste beef tallow (saturated Fat). The biodiesel was produced by the means of base catalyzed methanol transesterification reaction. The most optimized blending ratio between crude oil to biodiesel was found to be 1:1.95 (crude oil: biodiesel) for elengi biodiesel and 1:1.85 (crude oil: biodiesel) for tallow biodiesel and the retention time for elengi oil and tallow biodiesel was found to be 16 days and 24 days respectively. The maximum degradation rate that was achieved by this technique was 95%. This method proves to be a renewable option for degrading the spilled crude oil during wreckages with limited environmental concerns in ecofriendly manner.

3 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focused on the biodiesel production from waste beef tallow rendered from subcutaneous and intramuscular wastes discarded from leather tanneries and slaughterhouses.
Abstract: Presently, biodiesel is considered as an effective alternate fuel owing to its high sustainability and robustness. This paper concentrates on the biodiesel production from waste beef tallow rendered from subcutaneous and intramuscular wastes discarded from leather tanneries and slaughterhouses. The maximum fat content was estimated to be 92.5% and 3.05%, whereas maximum rendering efficiency was determined to be 92% and 75% for subcutaneous and intramuscular wastes, respectively. The rendered waste tallow was converted into biodiesel using ethanol as a solvent and l-valine amido ethyl methyl imidazolium bromide ([l-Vaemim]Br) as a novel ionic liquid catalyst. The most optimised reaction parameters are as follows: molar ratio of 1:7.5, catalyst concentration of 20 wt% of tallow, reaction temperature of 75 °C and reaction time of 160 min. Properties of the produced biodiesel have been tested in accordance with ASTM Standards, where the results were found to be within the permissible range. The engine characteristics of biodiesel exhibited increased heat release rate and maximum cylinder pressure, reduced emission levels than compared to ordinary diesel; in addition, its performance characteristics were similar to diesel, thereby making it a suitable replacement for existing fossil fuel.

55 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide knowledge of biodiesel production via transesterification/esterification using different catalysts, their prospects, and their challenges, including soap formation and the difficulty in product separation.
Abstract: The excessive utilization of petroleum resources leads to global warming, crude oil price fluctuations, and the fast depletion of petroleum reserves. Biodiesel has gained importance over the last few years as a clean, sustainable, and renewable energy source. This review provides knowledge of biodiesel production via transesterification/esterification using different catalysts, their prospects, and their challenges. The intensive research on homogeneous chemical catalysts points to the challenges in using high free fatty acids containing oils, such as waste cooking oils and animal fats. The problems faced are soap formation and the difficulty in product separation. On the other hand, heterogeneous catalysts are more preferable in biodiesel synthesis due to their ease of separation and reusability. However, in-depth studies show the limited activity and selectivity issues. Using biomass waste-based catalysts can reduce the biodiesel production cost as the materials are readily available and cheap. The use of an enzymatic approach has gained precedence in recent times. Additionally, immobilization of these enzymes has also improved the statistics because of their excellent functional properties like easy separation and reusability. However, free/liquid lipases are also growing faster due to better mass transfer with reactants. Biocatalysts are exceptional in good selectivity and mild operational conditions, but attractive features are veiled with the operational costs. Nanocatalysts play a vital role in heterogeneous catalysis and lipase immobilization due to their excellent selectivity, reactivity, faster reaction rates owing to their higher surface area, and easy recovery from the products and reuse for several cycles.

51 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
09 Sep 2021-Energies
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the classification, generation, and utilization of biofuels, particularly in internal combustion engine (ICE) applications, and highlighted the advantages of the application of biogas, bioalcohol, and hydrogen in spark ignition engines, as well as biodiesel, Fischer-Tropsch fuel, and dimethyl ether in compression ignition engines.
Abstract: Biofuel, a cost-effective, safe, and environmentally benign fuel produced from renewable sources, has been accepted as a sustainable replacement and a panacea for the damaging effects of the exploration for and consumption of fossil-based fuels. The current work examines the classification, generation, and utilization of biofuels, particularly in internal combustion engine (ICE) applications. Biofuels are classified according to their physical state, technology maturity, the generation of feedstock, and the generation of products. The methods of production and the advantages of the application of biogas, bioalcohol, and hydrogen in spark ignition engines, as well as biodiesel, Fischer–Tropsch fuel, and dimethyl ether in compression ignition engines, in terms of engine performance and emission are highlighted. The generation of biofuels from waste helps in waste minimization, proper waste disposal, and sanitation. The utilization of biofuels in ICEs improves engine performance and mitigates the emission of poisonous gases. There is a need for appropriate policy frameworks to promote commercial production and seamless deployment of these biofuels for transportation applications with a view to guaranteeing energy security.

42 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the process optimization and characteristic assessment of waste animal fat (WAF) biodiesel based on the influence of fatty acids characterized in it, and evaluate the performance of WAFs.
Abstract: This present study focus on the process optimization and characteristic assessment of waste animal fat (WAF) biodiesel based on the influence of fatty acids characterized in it. WAFs were rendered ...

33 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarized the detailed literature study on biodiesel produced from waste animal fats discarded from leather tanneries and animal slaughter houses and focused on the extraction techniques, refining process, biodiesel production process along with its advantages and effect on engine.
Abstract: Biodiesel is a long chain fatty acid alkyl ester molecule with robust characteristics suitable for both environment and as alternate energy resources. This paper aimed in summarizing the detailed literature study on biodiesel produced from waste animal fats discarded from leather tanneries and animal slaughter houses. This study concentrated on the extraction techniques, refining process, biodiesel production process along with its advantages and effect on engine. The fats had been proven to a viable feedstock when compared to vegetable oil and waste cooking oil in terms of productivity and economy. Various technical challenges involved in biodiesel production are food vs. fuel conflict over feedstock, auxiliary energy requirement for fat extraction and biodiesel production, Free Fatty Acid content, optimizing the reaction. Effects of biodiesel on engine application had also been discussed and will be providing wider scope of research for overcoming these short comes. This literature study affirmed that biodiesel produced from waste animal fat has a very good impact in reducing environmental pollution and moving a step ahead towards an effective sustainable development.

30 citations