Optimization of biodiesel production

1. Optimization of Biodiesel
Production
Leslie Arana 27.870.349
Chemical Engineering (49)
Technical English
Section: S1

2. Biodiesel is defined as a fuel of
mono- alkyl esters derived from
vegetable oils and animal fats.
 It’s non- toxic, biodegradable, has a high heat
value, high oxygen content and doesn’t contain
sulfurs and aromatic compounds.
 Studies have showed biodiesel to better than
fossil-based diesel in terms of engine
performance, emissions reduction, lubricity and
environmental benefits.
 Vegetable oil has become attractive because
of it’s environmental benefits and the fact that
it’s made of renewable resources.
Transesterification is a common
method to reduce oil viscosity in
the biodiesel industry.
 Vegetable has too high a viscosity to be used
in most existing diesel engines.
 Transesterification consists of a number of
consecutive, reversible reactions.
 Triglycerides are reduced to diglycerides that
are then reduced into mono- glycerides.
 The catalysts used for this method are acids
and alkali, and RSM to optimize the reactor
conditions.

3. Biodiesel obtained under optimum conditions from pure and waste sunflower
cooking oil was of good quality.
Researchers demonstrated that it could be used as a diesel fuel which was
considered as renewable energy and environmental recycling process from waste
oil after frying.
• Materials used in the research: Sunflower oil,
Metanol (99.5%), and Potassium Hydroxyde
(KOH).
• Equipment used in the research: Reactor
with a hot water bath to control the
temperature and an overhead stirrer with a
mixer.

4. Experiments and Methods
Physical Properties
After 2 hours of
transesterification is
completed by seperating
the mixture into biodiesel
and glicerol. The biodiesel
was proceded to proper
treatment and cleaning,
and then dried.
These were measured and then compared
with ASTM standard and petro-diesel.
Kinetic experiments were
employed to optimize
various parameters in the
production of the methyl
esters.
The transesterification
reactions were preformed.
Hot water circulated in the
reactor to provide the
necessary temperature and
variable quantities of
catalysts were dissolved in
various amounts of methanol

5. Results and Discussions
 Fitting the model:
• RSM was used to optimize transesterification
reaction.
• Experimental yields were analyzed to get a
repression model.
• The predicted values od biodiesel yield were
calculated and compared with experimental
values.
• The variable with the most significant effect on
the oil yield was the temperature, methonal to
oil ratio, and catalyst concentration.
 Response Surface Analysis:
• Response surface has been applied successfully
for optimization of biodiesel production in fat
and oil feedstocks.
• A few works reportedthe reaction at room
temperature, focusing mostly on the
transesterification near at near bioling point of
alcohol.
• At low temperatures, low conversions is evident
due due to the subcriticcal state of methonal.
• At higher temperature than boiling point of
methanol, alcohol evaporates and the yield
was decreased.

6. Conclusions
Response surfaces
methodology
wassuccessfully applied
for transesterification of
methanol.
The high regression
coefficients showed that
the model was well fitted
to the experimental data.
Biodiesel production has
a negative cuadratic
behavior by
temperature, molar ratio,
and catalyst
concentration.
Biodiesel is a suitable
alternative for a petro-
diesel replacement.