Fatliquor Product Development from Vernonia galamensis Seed Oil via Modified Sulphitation Process
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Date
2014-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Fatliquor is one of the most important chemical used in leather processing industry. It is
currently imported with foreign currency. This research showed the potential of locally
available raw material vernonia galamensis seed oil for production of sulphited fatliquor, which
will potentially substitute the imported vegetable oil sulphited fatliquor.
4.5 liter purified Vernonia oil was obtained from 22 kg Vernonia seed. FAME is prepared from
vernonia oil with 85% yield. The sulphited fatliquor was synthesized using vernonia oil, FAME
and concentrated sodium bisulphite solution. The process involves preparation of seed,
extraction and purification of oil, preparation of FAME and 40% by weight sodium bisulphite
solution, oxidation of mixture of vernonia oil and FAME, sulphitation of the mixture with
sodium bisulphite, washing excess sodium bisulphite and finally drying the sulphited fatliquor.
Design-Expert 7.0.0 three-level-three-factor face-centered CCD was applied for experimental
design and statistical analysis of results. A total of 20 experiments were conducted at conditions
of reaction temperature 60, 65 and 700C, amount of sodium bisulphite solution 20, 30 and 40%
and 10, 12.5 and 15 h reaction time. From the analysis of experimental results the interaction
effects were studied and the optimal sulphitation reaction process conditions, which will
maximize the degree of sulphitation, were found to be 700C reaction temperature, 30% amount
of sodium bisulphite and 12.5 h reaction time which gave 3.36% degree of sulphitation.
The physicochemical characterization of the synthesized fatliquor and the visual and physical
properties test on the fatliquored leather met the IS 14488 and BASF specification respectively.
From the preliminary feasibility study for 2750 kg/day capacity Sulphited fatliquor production
plant, Birr 40.95 million TCI is required. The unit product cost was estimated 28.85 Birr. The
project was financially feasible with 51.6% RORI, Birr 66.16 million NPV, 2 years and 4 months
payback period, 2.6 profitability index and 42% IRR.
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Process Engineering Stream