Injection of superheated C1 and C3 alcohols in non-edible Pongamia pinnata oil for semi-continuous uncatalyzed biodiesel synthesis

Bisheswar Karmakar, Sucharita Pal, Konga Gopikrishna, Onkar Nath Tiwari and Gopinath Halder

Renewable Energy, 2022, vol. 185, issue C, 850-861

Abstract: Superheated biodiesel synthesis is superior to catalyzed processes due to high reaction rates under nearly continuous operation. The presented article uses superheated methanol and 2-propanol injection (separately) with Pongamia pinnata oil for rapid conversion into biodiesel. Preliminary batch studies were used for determining the correct range for optimization, and face-centred central composite design was used for optimizing the process. It was seen that reaction temperature, initial oil mass, alcohol preheat temperature and retention duration have varying influences on the conversion process. Optimal biodiesel yields with methanol and 2-propanol were 97.62% and 98.85% respectively. From obtained results, it is clear that methanol has a higher reaction rate, while biodiesel using 2-propanol is formed slowly, requiring slightly higher temperatures. The decline in biodiesel from 2-propanol is lower compared to methanol, indicating improved thermal stability. Both samples when tested for suitability as biodiesel show comparable physico-chemical properties. Thus karanja oil is a suitable feedstock for superheated biodiesel production. Owing to a higher biodiesel yield and fuel thermal stability, 2-propanol is a better alternative for the uncatalyzed alcoholysis, despite having a lower reaction rate. Since the process is fast and semi-continuous, minor modifications would be enough to make it continuous with high productivity.

Keywords: Accelerated conversion; Biodiesel synthesis; Karanja oil; Semi-continuous process; Superheated transesterification; Uncatalyzed production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:185:y:2022:i:c:p:850-861

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.12.109

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