Production and Optimization of Biodiesel in a Membrane Reactor, Using a Solid Base Catalyst

• Published in: Membranes (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 7; p. 674
• Main Authors: Olagunju, Olusegun Ayodeji, Musonge, Paul, Kiambi, Sammy Lewis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 30.06.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Activated carbon; alternative fuels; Aluminum oxide; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Calcium; Calcium oxide; Calorific value; Carbon; Catalysts; central composite design; Composite materials; Diesel; Fatty acids; Flash point; fuel characteristics; Glycerol; Kinematic viscosity; Lime; membrane reactor; Membrane reactors; Membranes; Methanol; Optimization; Pore size; Raw materials; Reaction time; Reactors; Response surface methodology; Soybean oil; soybean oil methyl ester; Soybeans; Temperature effects; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Triglycerides; Vegetable oils; Durban South Africa; South Africa
• ISSN: 2077-0375; 2077-0375
• DOI: 10.3390/membranes12070674

The commercial Calcium oxide was successfully embedded on activated carbon surfaces to increase the reactive surface area of a composite catalyst material CaO/AC. The composite catalyst material was also successfully packed in the tubular titanium dioxide/Aluminum dioxide ceramic membrane reactor used to separate the biodiesel produced. Virgin soybean oil was used as precursor feedstock for the reaction. Using a central composite approach, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to obtain the optimum conditions for producing biodiesel from soybean oil. A total of four process factors were examined (24 experimental designs). 30 experiments were derived and run to investigate the effects of temperature, reaction time, methanol to oil molar ratio, and catalyst concentration (calcium oxide attached on activated carbon). 96.9 percent of soybean oil methyl ester (SOME/biodiesel) was produced at 65 °C temperature, 90 min of reaction time, 4.2:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, and 3.0 wt.% catalyst concentration. The measured yield and expected biodiesel production values were correlated in a linear sequence. The fuel qualities of SOME/biodiesel were tested, including kinematic viscosity, density, flash point, copper corrosion, calorific value, cloud point, pour point, ash content, and carbon residue.