Microwave radiation improves biodiesel yields from waste cooking oil in the presence of modified coal fly ash

Abstract

This paper studied the effects of using modified coal fly ash as a catalyst to convert waste cooking oil (WCO) into biodiesel under microwave-strengthened action. Coal fly ash was modified with sodium sulphate and sodium hydroxide, and the obtained catalyst was characterized using FT-IR and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimental results showed that the modified coal fly ash catalyst improved biodiesel yields under the microwave-assisted system, and the maximum biodiesel yield from waste cooking oil reached 94.91% at a molar ratio of methanol to WCO of 9.67:1 with 3.99% wt% of modified coal fly ash catalyst (based on oil weight) at a 66.20 • C reaction temperature. The reusability of the modified coal fly ash catalyst was excellent, and the conversion yield remained greater than 90% after the catalyst was reused 8 times. The produced biodiesel met the main parameters of the ASTM D-6751 and EN14214 standards.

Entrapping Immobilisation of Lipase on Biocomposite Hydrogels toward for Biodiesel Production from Waste Frying Acid Oil

“…The results show that the produced biodiesel mainly contains oleic acid methyl ester (31.52%), palmitoleic acid methyl ester (29.43%), stearic acid methyl ester (26.95%) and other components as shown in Figure 9. The results obtained were in line with previous studies [48,49], which reported that biodiesel from WFO was mainly composed of stearic-, oleic-, palmitic-and palmitoleic acids. The results also revealed that the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids found in biodiesel was higher than the proportion of saturated fatty acids.…”

A Novel PETG Microchannel Reactor for Microwave-Powered Biodiesel Production

“…This proved the interdependency between catalyst loading and methanol to oil molar ratio, as the optimal levels of both factors are required to produce 100% FAME yield. The poor FAME yield at the joint permutation of low methanol to oil molar ratio and low catalyst loading was caused by insufficient catalyst concentration in the reaction mixture to complete the transesterification reaction [42]. Beyond a catalyst loading of 1.0 wt.%, it is postulated that transesterification would be adversely affected by undesired emulsification and saponification, complicating product separation and diminishing the FAME yield, respectively [43].…”

Environmentally benign solid catalysts for sustainable biodiesel production: A critical review

“…Thus, the use of this industrial residue as a biodiesel catalyst not only reduces costs but also controls pollution (Ram and Masto, 2014). Studies by Xiang et al (2016Xiang et al ( , 2017 disclosed that hydrothermal treatment of coal fly ash can yield around 95% biodiesel by microwave radiation, and more than 95% by ultrasonic irradiation using waste cooking oil as a biodiesel feedstock. Furthermore, studies by Manique et al (2017) disclosed that hydrothermal synthesis of coal fly ash zeolite can yield over 95% biodiesel.…”