Continuous Production of Biodiesel from Rubber Seed Oil Using a Packed Bed Reactor with BaCl2 Impregnated CaO as Catalyst

Abstract

The goal of this research was to test barium chloride (BaCl2) impregnated calcined razor clam shell as a solid catalyst for transesterification of rubber seed oil (RSO) in a packed bed reactor (PBR). The waste razor clam shells were crushed, ground, and calcined at 900 °C in a furnace for 2 h to derive calcium oxide (CaO) particles. Subsequently, the calcined shells were impregnated with BaCl2 by wet impregnation method and recalcined at 300 °C for 2 h. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, and basic strength measurements. The effects of various parameters such as residence time, reaction temperature, methanol/oil molar ratio, and catalyst bed length on the yield of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) were determined. The BaCl2/CaO catalyst exhibited much higher catalytic activity and stability than CaO catalyst influenced by the basicity of the doped catalyst. The maximum fatty acid methyl ester yield was 98.7 % under optimum conditions (residence time 2.0 h, reaction temperature 60 °C, methanol/oil molar ratio 12:1, and catalyst bed length 200 mm). After 6 consecutive reactions without any treatment, fatty acid methyl ester yield reduced to 83.1 %. The option of using waste razor clam shell for the production of transesterification catalysts could have economic benefits to the aquaculture and food industries.

Biodiesel Production from Rubber Seed Oil as An Alternative Energy Source – A Review

“…The CaO catalyst was chosen to support the reaction in the one-stage transesterification method. Buasri and Loryuenyong [27] obtained a maximum yield of 98.7% with the use of a 200 mm BaCl2/CaO catalyst bed. This selection is based on the fact that Ba2+ ions are highly alkaline when added to Ca2+ ions, resulting in high yields under low reaction conditions [42], [43].…”

“…Qualitatively, the molar ratio 4: 1 and 5: 1 has not provided biodiesel quality that met SNI 7182-2015 standards. In the one-stage transesterification method, Buasri and Loryuenyong [27] reported that the increase in biodiesel yield occurred at a ratio of 6: 1 to 12: 1. A further increase in the ratio will increase the yield, but a stable emulsion will be formed that is difficult to separate from biodiesel [50].…”

“…The increase in temperature will result in a decrease in viscosity and density of fluid because the particles becoming stretched and their molecular coherence reduced [55], [56]. In the one-stage transesterification method, the reported optimum reaction temperature of Buasri and Loryuenyong [27] is 60°C. Lower temperatures lead to low conversion due to limited mass transfer as well as the solubility of both reactants, while higher temperatures decrease conversion presumably because methanol evaporation decreases catalyst activity.…”

Process Optimization of Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil in a Microwave Reactor: A Case of Machine Learning and Box–Behnken Design

“…The agricultural, food, chemical, and energy industries could all stand to benefit eco nomically from the possibility of producing biofuel and heterogeneous catalysts through the utilization of waste oil and agricultural biomass [40].…”

“…The authors would also like to express their appreciation to the Department o Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology at Silpakorn The agricultural, food, chemical, and energy industries could all stand to benefit economically from the possibility of producing biofuel and heterogeneous catalysts through the utilization of waste oil and agricultural biomass [40].…”