Microwave-Heated Tubular Reactor for Enhanced Biodiesel Transesterification Process

Biodiesel is an important renewable fuel derived from bioresources that can help to mitigate climate change by significantly reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector. The conventional batch reactor transesterification process to produce biodiesel is inefficient due to long production...

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Main Authors: Jo-Han Ng, Josiah Kai Yi Yang, Koguleshun Subramaniam, Kang Yao Wong, Meng Choung Chiong, Cheng Tung Chong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. 2023-12-01
Series:Chemical Engineering Transactions
Online Access:https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/14172
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author Jo-Han Ng
Josiah Kai Yi Yang
Koguleshun Subramaniam
Kang Yao Wong
Meng Choung Chiong
Cheng Tung Chong
author_facet Jo-Han Ng
Josiah Kai Yi Yang
Koguleshun Subramaniam
Kang Yao Wong
Meng Choung Chiong
Cheng Tung Chong
author_sort Jo-Han Ng
collection DOAJ
description Biodiesel is an important renewable fuel derived from bioresources that can help to mitigate climate change by significantly reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector. The conventional batch reactor transesterification process to produce biodiesel is inefficient due to long production time and high energy consumption. In this study, transesterification of palm oil for biodiesel production is conducted using the combined technologies of tubular reactor and microwave-assisted heating method. Parameters investigated include the effects of microwave power, methanol to oil molar ratio, KOH catalyst concentration, and tube length, on FAME yield. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield of 96.5 % meeting the EN 14214 standard were obtained within the conditions where methanol to oil molar ratio was 8.5-10.0 and microwave power was.320 to 350 W. It was observed that FAME yield reduces when excess microwave power is provided to the reaction due to overheating of organic molecules and boiling of methanol. An average increase of around 10 % in FAME yield was found when the KOH catalyst concentration increases from 0.8 to 1.2 wt%. The results of this study provide insights into the optimisation of transesterification process for producing biodiesel using the combined microwave-assisted heating in tubular reactor method.
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spelling doaj.art-55cc93cc152448be9d9a7d78c92afa032023-12-15T23:50:43ZengAIDIC Servizi S.r.l.Chemical Engineering Transactions2283-92162023-12-0110610.3303/CET23106112Microwave-Heated Tubular Reactor for Enhanced Biodiesel Transesterification ProcessJo-Han NgJosiah Kai Yi YangKoguleshun SubramaniamKang Yao WongMeng Choung ChiongCheng Tung ChongBiodiesel is an important renewable fuel derived from bioresources that can help to mitigate climate change by significantly reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector. The conventional batch reactor transesterification process to produce biodiesel is inefficient due to long production time and high energy consumption. In this study, transesterification of palm oil for biodiesel production is conducted using the combined technologies of tubular reactor and microwave-assisted heating method. Parameters investigated include the effects of microwave power, methanol to oil molar ratio, KOH catalyst concentration, and tube length, on FAME yield. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield of 96.5 % meeting the EN 14214 standard were obtained within the conditions where methanol to oil molar ratio was 8.5-10.0 and microwave power was.320 to 350 W. It was observed that FAME yield reduces when excess microwave power is provided to the reaction due to overheating of organic molecules and boiling of methanol. An average increase of around 10 % in FAME yield was found when the KOH catalyst concentration increases from 0.8 to 1.2 wt%. The results of this study provide insights into the optimisation of transesterification process for producing biodiesel using the combined microwave-assisted heating in tubular reactor method.https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/14172
spellingShingle Jo-Han Ng
Josiah Kai Yi Yang
Koguleshun Subramaniam
Kang Yao Wong
Meng Choung Chiong
Cheng Tung Chong
Microwave-Heated Tubular Reactor for Enhanced Biodiesel Transesterification Process
Chemical Engineering Transactions
title Microwave-Heated Tubular Reactor for Enhanced Biodiesel Transesterification Process
title_full Microwave-Heated Tubular Reactor for Enhanced Biodiesel Transesterification Process
title_fullStr Microwave-Heated Tubular Reactor for Enhanced Biodiesel Transesterification Process
title_full_unstemmed Microwave-Heated Tubular Reactor for Enhanced Biodiesel Transesterification Process
title_short Microwave-Heated Tubular Reactor for Enhanced Biodiesel Transesterification Process
title_sort microwave heated tubular reactor for enhanced biodiesel transesterification process
url https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/14172
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