Document Type
Article (Restricted)
Publication Date
1-1-2011
Abstract
In this study, a novel continuous reactor has been developed to produce high quality methyl esters (biodiesel) from palm oil. A microporous TiO2/Al2O3 membrane was packed with potassium hydroxide catalyst supported on palm shell activated carbon. The central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the effects of reaction temperature, catalyst amount and cross flow circulation velocity on the production of biodiesel in the packed bed membrane reactor. The highest conversion of palm oil to biodiesel in the reactor was obtained at 70 degrees C employing 157.04 g catalyst per unit volume of the reactor and 0.21 cm/s cross flow circulation velocity. The physical and chemical properties of the produced biodiesel were determined and compared with the standard specifications. High quality palm oil biodiesel was produced by combination of heterogeneous alkali transesterification and separation processes in the packed bed membrane reactor. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Analysis of Variance Biofuels/*analysis *Bioreactors Biotechnology/*instrumentation/*methods Catalysis Charcoal/*analysis Chromatography, Gas Esterification Hydroxides/chemistry *Membranes, Artificial Models, Chemical Plant Oils/chemistry Potassium Compounds/chemistry Recycling Temperature
Divisions
fac_eng
Publication Title
Bioresource Technology
Volume
102
Issue
2
Additional Information
Bioresour. Technol. ISI Document Delivery No.: 714BU Times Cited: 0 Cited Reference Count: 31 Baroutian, Saeid Aroua, Mohamed K. Raman, Abdul Aziz A. Sulaiman, Nik M. N. Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia ; University of Malaya 13-02-03-3019, PS-103-2008B The authors thank Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia and University of Malaya for their financial supports under the Science fund (fund number: 13-02-03-3019) and PPP fund (PS-103-2008B). ELSEVIER SCI LTD OXFORD