Abstract
A process for production of ethyl ester for use as biodiesel has been studied. The sodium hydroxide catalyzed transesterification of soybean oil with ethanol was carried out at different molar ratio of alcohol to oil, reaction temperature and catalyst amount for a constant agitation in two hours of reaction time. Central composite design and response surface methodology were used to determine optimum condition for producing biodiesel. It was found that ethanol to oil ratio and catalyst concentration have a positive influence on ester conversion as well as interaction effects between the three factors considered. An empirical model obtained was able to predict conversion as a function of ethanol to oil molar ratio, reaction temperature and catalyst concentration adequately. Optimum condition for soybean ethyl ester production was found to be moderate ethanol to oil ratio (10.5: l), mild temperature range (70°C) and high catalyst concentrations (l.0%wt), with corresponding ester conversion of 93.0%.
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Abbreviations
- C:
-
Catalyst concentration
- Ic :
-
Coefficient of catalyst concentration effect
- IR :
-
Coefficient of ethanol to oil molar ratio effect
- Ir :
-
Coefficient of temperature effect
- ICR :
-
Coefficient of interaction effect between catalyst concentration and molar ratio
- Icr :
-
Coefficient of interaction effect between catalyst concentration and temperature
- IRT :
-
Coefficient of interaction effect between molar ratio and temperature
- IRCT :
-
Coefficient of interaction effect between molar ratio, catalyst concentration and temperature
- R:
-
Molar ratio of ethanol to vegetable oil
- T:
-
Reaction temperature
- Xc :
-
Coded variable for catalyst concentration
- XR :
-
Coded variable for ethanol to oil molar ratio
- XT :
-
Coded variable for reaction temperature
- Y:
-
Yield or conversion efficiency to ethyl ester
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Tippayawong, N., Kongjareon, E. & Jompakdee, W. Ethanolysis of soybean oil into biodiesel: process optimization via central composite design. J Mech Sci Technol 19, 1902–1909 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02984269
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02984269