Ricinoleic Acid Methyl Ester (Rame): Synthesis, Characterization and Determination of Optimum Process Parameters

Abstract

Castor oil is a unique vegetable oil with peculiar features such as extremely high viscosity and unusual miscibility with short chain alcohol. This necessitates a comprehensive exploration of all process parameters in the transesterification of castor oil, which is rarely done for other vegetable oils. In this study, the methanolysis of castor oil using alkaline catalyst (potassium hydroxide, KOH) was investigated in a batch reactor via the conventional one-variable-at-a-time protocol. The effects of process parameters including reaction time, reaction temperature, methanol-to-oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration and stirring rate on biodiesel yield were evaluated. The results indicate the significant influence of all parameters on the biodiesel yield. An optimum yield of 96% was achieved at a reaction time of 60 min, reaction temperature of 65 o C, methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 12:1, catalyst concentration of 1.5% w/w and stirring rate of 125 rpm. The fuel properties and fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectrum of the biodiesel obtained at optimum condition were mostly found to be in conformity with the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 specification standards.

Experimental and theoretical assessment of phenomena linked with separation and purification of biodiesel from Ricinus communis seed oil

“…4 showed that the main fatty acid component was methyl linoleic and ricinoleate which accounted for about 50.1% of the character of the biodiesel. This was observed to align with the work of [ 16 , 17 , 41 , 112 ]. This ester is composed of an acid and a hydroxyl group that readily forms hydrogen and dipole-dipole bonds with methanol and glycerol.…”