Application of a co-solvent method in biodiesel production from Vernicia montana Lour. oil

DOI: 10.5176/2251-189X_SEES16.18

Authors: Hanh Ngoc Thi Le, Kiyoshi Imamura, Masakazu Furuta and Yasuaki Maeda

Abstract: The co-solvent method using an alkaline catalyst was applied in biodiesel production from Vernicia montana Lour. oil. The effects of various parameters on the transesterification reaction such as solvents, solvent amount, methanol/oil molar ratio, catalyst amount, reaction temperature were investigated. The FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) yield achieved 99{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465} after 20-30 min under the optimal conditions as follows: 20{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465} (wt/wt) acetone as co-solvent, a methanol/oil molar ratio of 6/1, 1.5{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465} ({6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}wt) KOH catalyst and a reaction temperature of 40°C. The produced biodiesel has an acid value of 0.42 mg KOH/g oil and a water content of 252 mg/kg. The biodiesel from Vernicia montana oil meets the requirements of EN 14214 and JIS K2390 for quality standards of biodiesel regarding FAME content, acid value and water content.

Keywords: co-solvent method, biodiesel, transesterification, Vernicia montana Lour. oil.