Low-Cost Alternative Biodiesel Production Apparatus Based on Household Food Blender for Continuous Biodiesel Production for Small Communities

Abstract

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) are sustainable biofuel that can alleviate high oil cost and environmental impacts of petroleum-based fuel. A modified 1,200 W high efficiency fruit blender was employed for continuous transesterification of various refined vegetable oils and waste cooking oil (WCO) using sodium hydroxide as a homogeneous catalyst. The following factors have been investigated on their effects on FAME yield: baffles, reaction volume, total reactant flow rate, methanol-oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration and reaction temperature. Results indicated that the optimal conditions were: 2,000 mL reaction volume, 50 mL/min total flow rate, 1% and 1.25% catalyst concentration for refined palm oil and WCO, respectively, 6:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio and 62 - 63oC, obtaining yield efficiency over 96.5% FAME yield of 21.14 ´ 10-4 g.J-1 (for palm oil) and 19.39 ´ 10-4 g.J-1 (for WCO). All the properties of produced FAMEs meet the EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 standards. The modified household fruit blender could be a practical and low-cost alternative biodiesel production apparatus for continuous biodiesel production for small communities in remote areas.

Techno-economic and environmental assessment for enhancementbiodiesel production process using rotating tube reactor and dry washing

“…Higher temperatures provide multiple positive effects, including an increased reaction rate, improved heat and mass transfer. These factors contribute to an enhanced yield of biodiesel production in the transesterification process [73]. Transesterification of WCO was tested for 2 h with various temperature of 30, 60, and 65 •C using NaOH loading of 1 wt.% and make-up NaOH for neutralization of FFA in WCO and methanol to WCO molar ratio of 6:1 in the continuous RTR reactor.…”