Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 36 (2) September 2024, p. 484-494
EFFECT OF REACTION TIME ON VARIOUS PROPERTIES OF PALM OIL BIODIESEL IN CONTINUOUS BIODIESEL REACTOR
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2023.0040
Received: 1 March 2023 Accepted: 5 July 2023 Published Online: 29 August 2023
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