Production of biodiesel from non-edible industrial oilseeds via non-catalytic transesterification

• Published in: Industrial crops and products Vol. 222; p. 119811
• Main Authors: Kwon, Dohee, Choi, Dongho, Kim, Jee Young, Song, Hocheol, Lee, Jaewon, Kwon, Eilhann E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.12.2024
• Subjects: Biodiesel; biomass; Castor seed; Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs); lipid; Non-catalytic transesterification; oilseeds; seed oils; transesterification; TGs; BD; Non-catalytic transesterification; BE; KOH; Castor seed; Biodiesel; lipid; TGA; DCM; Py-GC/MS; MeOH; FAMEs; Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs); ICP-OES
• ISSN: 0926-6690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.119811

The non-catalytic conversion of non-edible biomass into biodiesel (BD) is the subject of this investigation. Conventional oil extraction from biomass often results in economic and technical inefficiencies. This study suggests a non-catalytic transesterification reaction to directly convert castor seeds into BD in order to overcome these problems. Base-catalysed transesterification of extracted castor seed oil had a BD yield of 84.43 wt% (reaction time: 24 h at 60 ˚C). In contrast, non-catalytic transesterification of castor seed oil produced a BD yield of 93.79 wt%, which completed the reaction in 1 min at 390 ˚C. Thus, using the non-catalytic transesterification approach, we were able to empirically verify the greater conversion efficiency of BD. Additionally, the direct non-catalytic conversion of castor seed to BD achieved a yield of 105.81 wt%, suggesting that substantial oil loss occurs during the extraction process. These findings suggest that the traditional method of converting BD, which involves oil extraction and base-catalysed transesterification, is less efficient and less financially advantageous than directly converting castor seeds into BD. [Display omitted] •Non-catalytic transesterification of castor seed oil yields 93.79 wt% BD.•To minimise the oil loss during extraction step, direct conversion was introduced.•Direct conversion of castor seeds achieved 105.81 wt% BD yield.