PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM WASTE VEGETABLE OIL USING EGGSHELL BASED CATALYST

PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM WASTE VEGETABLE OIL USING EGGSHELL BASED CATALYST

ABSTRACT

The production of biodiesel from waste vegetable oil using eggshell based catalyst was studied. Eggshell was investigated to utilize the composition of calcium carbonate as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. The objective of the experiment is to utilize the calcium carbonate obtained from the calcination-hydration-dehydration method of the eggshell waste as solid catalyst for biodiesel production from waste vegetable oil by the variation of temperature, catalyst weight and reaction time. Catalyst form the waste raw eggshell was prepared by firstly, washing the eggshell to remove impurities, it was dried in hot air oven at 120 0C under static condition for 6hrs. Calcination was carried out at 900 0C for 3hr, after which it was washed, dried and recalcined at 600 0C for 3hr. Waste vegetable oil was filtered in order to remove impurities and food bits, after which qualitative analysis was carried out to determine the physiochemical properties such as viscosity, pH, free fatty acid and density. Transesterification reaction was performed by methanol to oil ratio of 6:1 and varying reaction temperature (60 °C, 65 °C, and 70 °C), reaction time (1hr, 2hr, and 3hr), catalyst weight (1%wt, 3%wt, 5%wt, 7%wt, 9%wt). The highest biodiesel yield was found to be 76.889% by using methanol oil ratio of 6:1, temperature of 60 0C reaction time for 2 hr.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Biodiesel has tremendously gained popularity because it is a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel. It is a major key component in the motor diesel engines today because of their attractive features. It represents a largely closed carbon dioxide cycle (approximately 78%), as it is derived from renewable biomass sources. Compared to petroleum diesel, biodiesel has lower emission of pollutants, it is biodegradable and enhances the engine lubricity (Kurki et al., 2006). Biodiesel has a higher cetane number than diesel fuel, no aromatics, no sulfur, and contains 10–11% oxygen by weight (Canakci, 2007). It can be easily synthesized through transesterification of oil or esterification of fats using basic or acidic catalysts with heating functions (Khemthong et al., 2012).

Chemically, biodiesel is a mixture of methyl esters with long-chain fatty acids and is typically made from transesterification reaction of biological triglyceride sources such as vegetable oil with alcohol in the presence of catalyst such as sodium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, potassium hydroxide, and potassium methoxide (Meher et al., 2006). The major reason that vegetable oils is transesterified to methyl esters (biodiesel) is that the kinematic viscosity of the biodiesel is much closer to that of petro-diesel. The high viscosity of untransesterified oils and fats leads to operational problems in the diesel engine such as deposits on various engine parts. Numerous feedstock have been experimented for biodiesel production. Though oil straight from the agricultural industry represents the greatest potential source, it is not being produced commercially simply because the oil is too expensive. After the cost of converting it to biodiesel has been added it, it will be too expensive to compete with fossil diesel.

Subsequently, this work intends to investigate the transesterification of triglycerides, using waste vegetable oil and raw eggshell as cost effective and eco-friendly catalyst.

1.2 Problem Statement

Commercial production technology of biodiesel via homogenous transesterification has a lot limitation, making the cost of biodiesel production economically unfeasible.

Waste eggshell-environmental nuisance, medium for growth of microorganism, aside odor.

Waste vegetable oil constitutes an environmental concern

1.3 Research Aim and Objectives

1.3.1 Aim

The aim of this project is to produce a solid catalyst from waste eggshell that can be used as catalyst in the transesterification of waste frying oil to biodiesel.

1.3.2 Objectives

• To synthesize and characterize catalyst from waste eggshell

• To study the feasibility of waste vegetable oil as alternative feedstock in the transesterification process.

• To characterize the product from the transesterification process (FAME)

• To study and optimize the transesterification of waste vegetable oil using eggshell based catalyst under a range of operating parameters (reaction temperature, reaction time, ratio of oil/methanol and amount of catalyst)

TOPIC: PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM WASTE VEGETABLE OIL USING EGGSHELL BASED CATALYST

Chapters: 1 - 5
Delivery: Email

Number of Pages: 60

Price: 3000 NGN

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