Biodiesel-Alkaline Transesterification Process for Methyl Ester Production

U.S.P.R. Arachchige, K.A. Viraj Miyuranga, D. Thilakarathne, R. A. Jayasinghe; N. A. Weerasekara

Biodiesel-Alkaline Transesterification Process for Methyl Ester Production

2021

U.S.P.R. Arachchige, K.A. Viraj Miyuranga, D. Thilakarathne, R. A. Jayasinghe | N. A. Weerasekara

The world needs to increase renewable and alternative fuel sources such as Biomass, Bioethanol, and Biodiesel to compete with fossil fuels. Biodiesel is an important renewable fuel source since it can be used in regular diesel vehicles without requiring engine modifications. Conventional biodiesel production takes around 90 min of reaction time. A longer reaction time is not suitable for commercial production. Furthermore, traditional products such as oil react with biodiesel methoxide to produce a maximum of 90% biodiesel yield. As the catalyst is not involved with the reaction, pure methanol and methoxide (methanol with KOH catalyst) are separately added to the system to enhance the pre-reaction step. By changing the methanol to methoxide ratio, biodiesel is produced, and yield is calculated. The highest yield, which is 95%, is obtained with a 5:15% methanol to methoxide ratio. The total reaction time with the new experimental procedure is only 20 min. That is a significant reduction by saving operating costs such as energy consumption. Produced biodiesel show similar properties to that of standard biodiesel.

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