Production of Biodiesel from Castor Seed Oil Via Transesterification with Methanol- Ethanol Blends using Calcium oxide as Catalyst
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Date
2019-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Biodiesel is a renewable and sustainable energy sources with a great potential to replace
conventional fuel and causes too much less environmental impact. Vegetable oils which can be
edible or nonedible and animal fats can be used as feed stock for biodiesel production. Now a day,
nonedible vegetable oils are getting more attraction and castor seed oil is among the nonedible
oils having a great potential for biodiesel production. Catalyzed transesterification is most
frequently used method for biodiesel production. The catalyst can be homogenous bas or acid
heterogenous base or acid and biocatalysts. This research was aimed at producing biodiesel from
castor seed oil via transesterification with methanol/ethanol blends. The oil was extracted in
soxhlet apparatus using normal hexane as a solvent and its chemical and physical properties were
tested and most of the properties were found to be complying with American society for testing for
materials (ASTM) quality oil. However, its viscosity was found to be too high. The FAM/E-E
(biodiesel) was produced via transesterification of the castor seed oil with methanol and ethanol
blends using calcium oxide as solid catalyst. Methanol to ethanol volume ratio, total alcohol to oil
molar ratio and catalyst loading were the process variables being studied and Design Expert 7.0.0
software using central composite design was used to investigate the individual and interaction
effects of these process variables on the yields of the produced biodiesel. The maximum yield of
biodiesel was obtained at 50:50 methanol to ethanol volume ratio, 9:1 total alcohol to oil molar
ratio and 2.5% catalyst loading. The properties of the produced biodiesel were tested and most of
were found to be complying with that of the ASTM standard biodiesel. However, the density and
viscosity were found to be above the ASTM standards. Depending on the results obtained from this
study, it can be concluded that the use of mixed methanol and ethanol for transesterification of
cator seed oil to biodiesel is viable process. In addition, the use of solid catalyst is a green process
since washing of biodiesel with water is not needed and separation of biodiesel from its reaction
mixture is easy.
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Keywords
Castor oil, Methanol/Ethanol blends, Calcium oxide, Transesterification, Biodiesel