Optimization of a disk-and-doughnut static-mixer reactor for biodiesel production using waste cooking oil

Date

6-2016

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Rex B. Demafelis

Restrictions

Restricted: Not available to the general public. Access is available only after consultation with author/thesis adviser and only to those bound by the confidentiality agreement.

Abstract

Biodiesel is a promising alternative source of energy used to mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Static mixers are precision engineered, energy efficient mixing devices that allows continuous mixing of immiscible fluids without moving parts. The transesterification of waste cooking oil (WCO) using methanol, as alcohol, and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), as catalyst, was optimized in a continuous static mixer reactor. The minimum number of segments that would produce a PNS-compliant biodiesel was first determined by setting all the parameters constant for each segment at a reaction time of one minute. The effects of varying volumetric flowrate, methanol-to-oil molar ration, and NaOH-to-oil molar ratio on the biodiesel purity and yield were evaluated. Thin- layer chromatography (TLC) was used for the analysis of samples and was quantified via QuantiscanTM version 5.0. The results showed that all three factors have signifiant effects on the yield. The optimum values obtained were 55.232 mL/s volumetric flowrate, 12:1 methanol-to-oil ratio and 0.235:1 NaOH-to-oil molar ratio. A reaction time profile was included in the confirmatory run to determine the effect of reaction time. The biodiesel produced was 99.55% methyl ester with a yield of 87.43%.

Language

English

Location

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

Call Number

LG 993.5 2016 E62 /N47

Document Type

Thesis

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