Influence of fatty acid composition on process optimization and characteristics assessment of biodiesel produced from waste animal fat

• Published in: Energy sources. Part A, Recovery, utilization, and environmental effects Vol. ahead-of-print; no. ahead-of-print; pp. 1 - 19
• Main Authors: Srinivasan, Gokul Raghavendra, Shankar, Vijayalakshmi, Chandra Sekharan, Sreekanth, Munir, Mamoona, Balakrishnan, Deepanraj, Mohanam, Anand, Jambulingam, Ranjitha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 11.06.2020
• Subjects: carbon chain length; cetane number; degree of unsaturation; fatty acid esters; fuel bound oxygen; Waste animal fat (WAF)
• ISSN: 1556-7036; 1556-7230
• DOI: 10.1080/15567036.2020.1771477

This present study focus on the process optimization and characteristic assessment of waste animal fat (WAF) biodiesel based on the influence of fatty acids characterized in it. WAFs were rendered from leather fleshing (subcutaneous fat, 85.64%) and slaughterhouse (intramuscular fat, 8.46%) wastes using dry rendering technique, wherein the maximum renderable fat content was found to be 75.77% and 5.89%, respectively. Ethyl esters of oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid were characterized as dominant fatty acid esters (FAEs) in WAF biodiesel. Optimized transesterification on waste fats using ethanol and synthesized D-valine amido ethyl methyl imidazolium chloride ([D-Vaemim]Cl) as novel ionic liquid (IL) catalyst yielded 97.36% of biodiesel. High molar ratio (WAF to ethanol:6) and reaction temperature (75°C) were accounted by the long-chain fatty acids in triglyceride molecules and their higher degree of saturation, respectively, meanwhile, [D-Vaemim]Cl exhibited high conversion yield beyond 10% and was effective up to 10 cycles. Similarly, biodiesel properties were evaluated as per ASTM D6751 standards, were found to be in acceptable range, and were deeply influenced by carbon chain length and degree of unsaturation in FAE molecules. Also, the presence of long-chain saturated FAEs along with fuel bound oxygen induced superior combustion characteristics and controlled emission concentrations. However, slight reduction in engine performance was due to high viscosity and reduced calorific value of biodiesel which was reflected from its FAE molecules.