Biodiesel can be produced by transesterification of oil triglycerides, as well as by esterification of fatty acids using feedstock materials rich in free fatty acids)FFAs). Utilization of such feedstocks can gain substantial economical profit and solve a problem of disposal of residual raw materials. To find an effective method of biodiesel production from FFA, we developed esterification of FFAs under ultrasonic activation using Lewis acids as catalysts. Homologous catalyst BF3 and heterogeneous AlCl3 were highly effective in reactions of model FFAs methylation under ultrasonic activation, when the reaction yield reached 100 %. Ethylation at the same conditions was less successful.
Replacing fossil fuels with biodiesel enables the emission of greenhouse gases to be decreased and reduces dependence on fossil fuels in countries with poor natural resources. Biodiesel can be produced by an esterification reaction between free fatty acids (FFAs) and methanol or by transesterification of triglycerides from oils. Both reactions require homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis. Production of biodiesel catalyzed by heterogeneous catalysts seems to be the preferred route, enabling easy product separation. As we have previously shown, the Lewis acids AlCl3 and BF3 can serve as highly efficient catalysts under ultrasonic activation. The present study focused on the development of oleic acid (OA) esterification with methanol by the same catalysts immobilized in silica matrices using the sol–gel synthesis route. During the course of immobilization, AlCl3 converts to AlCl3 × 6H2O (aluminite) and BF3 is hydrolyzed with the production of B2O3. The immobilized catalysts can be reused or involved in a continuous process. The possibility of biodiesel production using immobilized catalysts under ultrasonic activation is shown for the conversion of FFAs into biodiesel in batch and continuous mode.
Among the renewable energy sources is biodiesel. This fuel is usually produced by catalytic transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats under heating and pressure. Brown grease is a mixture of oils, fats, solids and detergents from food industry wastes that is captured in grease traps. Brown grease is classified as waste and must be treated and disposed of appropriately. It contains oils and fats that can be converted into biodiesel. However, the high concentration of free fatty acids in brown grease does not enable the use of conventional biodiesel production schemes. This study proposes a new scheme for biodiesel production from brown grease. In addition, conditions for the effective separation of a fat phase from brown grease were tested, and the composition of a fatty phase was determined for several grease traps. Esterification and transesterification of brown grease lipids were carried out with methanol, where the Lewis acids BF3 and AlCl3 were used as catalysts and the reaction was activated by ultrasound. The results show that biodiesel can be obtained from brown grease by esterification and transesterification within several minutes under ultrasonic activation at room temperature. These results open prospects for the development of efficient, low-cost and environmentally friendly biodiesel production.
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