Date of Publication

2009

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

Subject Categories

Chemical Engineering

College

Gokongwei College of Engineering

Department/Unit

Chemical Engineering

Thesis Adviser

Susan A. Roces
Florinda T. Bacani
Raymond Girard R. Tan

Defense Panel Chair

Josephine O. Borja

Defense Panel Member

Marylou Uy
Joseph Auresenia

Abstract/Summary

Currently, most of the biodiesel is produced from the refined or edible type of oils and fats through transesterification of triglycerides (TG) in the presence of methanol and an alkaline catalyst. However, large amount of non-edible type oils and fats are available such as Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed oil. The Kenaf seed oil contains large amounts of free fatty acids (FFA) which caused a problem while it is subjected to proceed with alkaline-esterification. These FFAs quickly react with the alkaline catalyst to produce soaps that inhibit the separation of the biodiesel produced and by product, glycerin. A two-step transesterification process by microwave irradiation was applied to convert the high free fatty acid (FFA) oils to its methyl esters. First step, acid catalyzed esterification were done twice under microwave irradiation using 2.25 g of methanol and 0.05 g of sulfuric acid for each gram of FFA content, 5 minutes reaction time, at 65oC. The lowest FFA achieved with this process was 0.31 % (AV = 0.625mgKOH/g). The second step, alkali catalyzed transesterification process, was also done under microwave irradiation using potassium hydroxide as the catalyst and methanol as the alcohol. The four major parameters considered in the second step were catalyst concentration (0.1%, 1%), methanol-oil molar ratio (3:1, 6:1), reaction temperature (50oC, 65oC) and reaction time (5min, 8min). The 24 full factorial designs with center points were applied to this study. Software (MINITAB 14) was used to analyze statistically the effect of those variable parameters on the yield and on the purity of biodiesel produced. The catalyst concentration and temperature were found to have a strong significance on the production yield. The calculated optimum yield* was obtained at 96.31 % and purity at 99.35% using 0.55% KOH catalyst, 4.5:1 methanol-oil molar ratio, 57.5 0C and 6.5 min reaction time. The analyses on the biodiesel produced yielded acceptable result that is in compliance with ASTM standard. This study proved that Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is a promising oil feedstock's and suitable for biodiesel production.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Accession Number

CDTG004671

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

ix, 111 leaves ; 28 cm.

Keywords

Kenaf (Hibiscus Cannabinus L.); Transesterification; Triglycerides

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