Parametric study on the transesterification of palm oil using waste eggshell-derived calcium oxide impregnated with sodium hydroxide with tetrahydrofuran as co-solvent

Date

6-2016

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Manolito E. Bambase Jr.,

Abstract

Biodiesel was produced from the transesterification of refined palm oil using waste-derived calcium oxide with methanol to oil molar ratio of 6:1. The catalytic activity of calcium oxide was enhanced by impregnating sodium hydroxide. The prepared catalyst was characterized using X-rat diffraction and FTIAR analysis confirming that NaOH was impregnated to the support however, it also showed the presence of calcium hydroxide that could lead to possible hydration of the catalyst. Since the XRD and FTIR analyses did not fully described the catalyst's structure, it is recommended that the catalyst be subjected to other characterization tests. Based on the 2^k full factorial design, it was found out that temperature, catalyst loading and their interaction had a significant effect on the percent FAME yield. However, adding co-solvent in the reaction has no significant effect on the response. Based on the TLC analysis, the produced methyl ester with the highest purity of 84.39% occurred at Run 4 (+,-,-). Further, the highest percent biodiesel yield was measured at 49.97% in the experimental run where high levels of the three factors were used. In contrast with conventional method of biodiesel production, the use of heterogenous catalyst and addition of co-solvent in the system provided a reduction in saponification and ease in product separation in this study, therefore, it is recommended that calcium oxide impregnated with sodium hydroxide as heterogenous catalysts and tetrahydrofuran as co-solvent be used in biodiesel production.

Language

English

Location

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

Call Number

LG 9935 2016 E62 /M34

Document Type

Thesis

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