Date

4-2009

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Amelia E. Parao

Co-adviser

Rex B. Demafelis

Committee Member

Butch G. Bataller, Jovita Movillon

Abstract

Production of ethyl ester from refined Moringa oleifera L. oil through FOH-catalyzed transesterification was studied and optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). The reaction variables considered were, methanol-to-oil molar ratio, KOH-to-oil molar ratio, reaction temperature and reaction time while chosen response was methyl ester content. Stirring rate was held constant to avoid mass transfer limitations. The methyl ester content was quantified using thin layer chromatography principles and with the aid of QuantiScan Version 3.0. Design-Expert® Version 7.1.4 was used for conducting RSM and suggested optimum combination of 1:10.27:0.23 oil-to-methanol-to-KOH molar ratio and 2.43h reaction time at a reaction temperature of 34.4°C with 98.66% predicted methyl ester content. The selection of the best optimum condition is also based on what is economical in a given process or production, this is true when: the reaction temperature is near ambient-low energy and equipment costs; the amount of reactants and catalysts is at minimum without sacrificing product quality-low operating costs; and the reaction time is short-low equipment cost.

Language

English

Call Number

LG 993 2009 E62 I23

Document Type

Thesis

Download

Share

COinS