Reutealis Trisperma Oil Esterification: Optimization and Kinetic Study

Riky Lim, Deog-Keun Kim and Jin-Suk Lee
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Riky Lim: Biomass and Wastes to Energy Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Deog-Keun Kim: Biomass and Wastes to Energy Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Jin-Suk Lee: Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Korea

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Reutealis trisperma , due to its high kernel-oil yield (±50%) and long productivity (±70 years), is considered to be a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. In addition, this plant, which can thrive on marginal lands, is classified as a non-edible oil since it contains a toxin known as eleostearic acid. The present study aimed to optimize the esterification step in biodiesel production from R.trisperma oil catalyzed using sulfonic ion exchange resin Lewatit K2640. The optimization step was performed using a response surface methodology through the incorporation of a central composite design. A kinetic study was performed as well, based on the assumption of a pseudo-homogeneous second-order model. Catalyst loading was found to have the most significant impact on acid value, followed by temperature and methanol-to-oil molar ratio. The optimal conditions for the esterification step were 92 °C temperature, 5.34% catalyst loading, and 5.82:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio. The acid value and FFA conversion of R.trisperma oil under these conditions were 2.49 mg KOH/g and 91.75%, respectively. The kinetics study revealed that the constructed model could fit the experimental data well with relatively high reliability. The activation energy required for the esterification of R.trisperma oil was 33.2 kJ/mol.

Keywords: biodiesel; Reutealis trisperma; esterification; optimization; kinetics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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