Optimization of biodiesel production from refined coconut oil via naoh-catalyzed transesterification using coconut methyl ester as co-solvent

Date

6-2015

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Rex B. Demafelis

Abstract

Production of methyl ester from refined coconut oil via NaOH-catalyzed transesterification using coconut methyl ester (CME) as co-solvent was optimized through response surface methodology (RSM) with the aid of Design-Expert 9 software. The process variables chosen were methanol-to-oil molar ratio, NaOH-to-oil molar ratio and FAME-to-methanol volumetric ratio and the response is the methyl ester content in terms of percent purity. The reaction was held constant at temperature equal to 53.7°C, reaction time of 30 mins with stirring rate of 500 rpm. The methyl ester content was determined and analyzed using the Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Cp Atlas. The optimum condition was predicted by Design-Expert 9 using RSM by generating a model equation. The predicted optimum conditions were 1:0.21:7.1 oil-to-NaOH-to-methanol molar ratio with 1.71:1 CME-to-methanol volumetric ratio. The predicted optimum condition was verified by actual experimentation and time profiling. Time profile analysis indicated that 97.06% CME content was achieved at 12 min reaction time, Therefore, the optimum conditions obtained were 1:0.21:7.1 oit-to-NaOH-to-methanol molar ratio with 1.72:1 FAME-to-methanol volumetric ratio at 53.7°C for 12 min 97.06% methyl ester content and 84.88% mass yield biodiesel.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2015 E62 /L36

Document Type

Thesis

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