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Optimisation of integrated biodiesel production. Part I. A study of the biodiesel purity and yield.

Vicente G, Martínez M, Aracil J

Departament of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología (ESCET), Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. gemma.vicente@urjc.es

This study consists of the development and optimisation of the potassium hydroxide-catalysed synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) from sunflower oil. A factorial design of experiments and a central composite design have been used. The variables chosen were temperature, initial catalyst concentration by weight of sunflower oil and the methanol:vegetable oil molar ratio, while the responses were biodiesel purity and yield. The initial catalyst concentration is the most important factor, having a positive influence on biodiesel purity, but a negative one on biodiesel yield. Temperature has a significant positive effect on biodiesel purity and a significant negative influence on biodiesel yield. The methanol:vegetable oil molar ratio is only significant for the biodiesel purity, having a positive influence. Second-order models were obtained to predict biodiesel purity and yield as a function of these variables. The best conditions are 25 degrees C, a 1.3%wt for the catalyst concentration and a 6:1 methanol:sunflower oil molar ratio.

Published 9 February 2007 in Bioresour Technol, 98(9): 1724-33.
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