Transesterification of Waste Oil to Produce Biodiesel and Cost Efficient Removal of Residues

UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Jessica Ortiz (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library
Advisor
Siva Mandjiny

Abstract: The energy crisis presents a great need for alternative energy sources. Therefore, at this juncture it is planned to produce biodiesel from waste animal fat. In this project the waste animal fat is collected from a local restaurant located in Lumberton. The quality of the oil has been checked for moisture content before the transesterification because it influences the production of soap. The transesterification has been done with methanol. The parameters such as temperature, the quantity of potassium hydroxide (KOH) were optimized. Also, the number of washing has been optimized for better quality of the biodiesel. A titration procedure was utilized to determine how much catalyst was needed to react with the free fatty acids in the waste animal fat feedstock. Using a thumbrule formula: [6/0.875 + # ofmL KOH solution] /2, the amount ofcatalyst needed to make soap with the free fatty acids is incorporated to determine to total amount of catalyst needed to conduct a complete reaction. The total amount ofKOH calculated was 3.83g. The 3.83g ofKOH was utilized in the transesterification of the waste animal fat. The catalyst was combined with 120 mL ofmethanol and combined with 500 mL of the melted animal fat. The reaction was allowed to proceed for 90 minutes at a constant 65° C. The yield of unwashed and undried biodiesel was 475 mL. The sample was washed and dried. The sample was analyzed using a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry instrument. The retention time was 7.891 seconds, indicating the presence of methyl palmitate, or biodiesel.

Additional Information

Publication
Honors Project
Esther G. Maynor Honors College - Biology
Language: English
Date: 2007
Keywords
Biofuels, Biodiesel, Transesterification, Alternative Energy Sources

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