RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 36 (3) September 2024, p. 484-494

EFFECT OF REACTION TIME ON VARIOUS PROPERTIES OF PALM OIL BIODIESEL IN CONTINUOUS BIODIESEL REACTOR

V. PALANISELVAM1*; S. SINDHUJA RAJAN1; S. SRIRAMAJAYAM1 and D. RAMESH1

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2023.0040
Received: 1 March 2023   Accepted: 5 July 2023   Published Online: 29 August 2023
ABSTRACT

Biodiesel consists of the fatty acid esters of simple alcohols, which pave the way to replace fossil diesel fuel with biodiesel in transportation. Using a continuous flow transesterification process is the viable option to produce biodiesel with reduced time and cost. In this study, different concentrations of catalyst potassium hydroxide at 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% were experimented to determine the higher recovery of biodiesel from palm oil. By increasing the methanol concentration 2-3 times higher than the stoichiometric requirement with respect to the catalyst concentration, the methyl ester yield increase gradually at a ratio of 0.5%. The maximum methyl ester yield was 96.0% for a 7.5:1.0 molar ratio. The samples taken at 10 min intervals were analysed for kinematic viscosity and specific gravity. In comparison with methyl ester yield, the maximum yield (96.0%) was obtained at 7.5:1.0 molar ratio and 2.0% catalyst concentration, which has minimum kinematic viscosity. For continuous transesterification of palm oil using static mixer, the optimum condition for maximum methyl ester yield (96.0%) was 7.5:1.0 molar ratio and 2.0% catalyst concentration.

KEYWORDS:


1 Department of Renewable Energy Engineering,
Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore, 641003 Tamil Nadu, India.

* Corresponding author e-mail: palaniselvam.v@tnau.ac.in

Releated

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The devastating infestation of bagworms in Malaysia had significant impact on oil palm production. The influence of beneficial plant, Turnera subulata on the natural enemies’ abundance in relation to bagworm, Pteroma pendula occurrence in an oil palm plantation located in Bagan Datuk, Perak was investigated. Sampling techniques (yellow sticky trap and sweep net) were employed […]