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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Investigations Of Cost-Effective Biodiesel Production From High Ffa Feedstock, Lesly N. Lesmes Sanchez Dec 2013

Investigations Of Cost-Effective Biodiesel Production From High Ffa Feedstock, Lesly N. Lesmes Sanchez

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Commercial production of biodiesel from refined vegetable oils has been widely practiced. However, more economic raw materials are required in order to make biodiesel competitive in the fuel market. This is a challenge since low-cost lipid feedstock contains high concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) and water, which inhibit transesterification. This work investigates new catalyst combinations and method configuration to develop a cost-effective and suitable process utilizing refined canola oil and canola oil with high oleic acid content. Results suggest that potassium carbonate is more tolerant to water in the feed and enhances phase separation when compared to traditional catalyst, …


Effects Of Biodiesel Concentration On Microbial Deterioration Of Polyethylene In A Simulated Fuel Storage Tank, Juan Manuel Restrepo-Florez Dec 2013

Effects Of Biodiesel Concentration On Microbial Deterioration Of Polyethylene In A Simulated Fuel Storage Tank, Juan Manuel Restrepo-Florez

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In this study a simulated fuel storage tank was used to investigate the effect of biodiesel concentration on biodegradation of polyethylene. This research is relevant in the field of fuel storage. The simulated storage system consisted of a number of identical conical flasks. Each flask was comprised of two layers, an upper one consisting of a fuel blend of diesel with biodiesel in concentrations ranging from 0 to 100% of biodiesel and the bottom layer containing an aqueous mineral media inoculated with a community obtained from a real fuel storage facility. Polyethylene slabs cut to a specific size were immersed …


Optimisation Of The Transesterification Stage Of Biodiesel Production Using Statistical Methods, Arnold Paintsil Oct 2013

Optimisation Of The Transesterification Stage Of Biodiesel Production Using Statistical Methods, Arnold Paintsil

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present research examines solely the transesterification stage of the biodiesel production process. Six process variables that affect the yield of biodiesel at this stage are examined using the 12 run Plackett-Burman Design. To study the effect of FFA[1] and to replicate real life situations where oil (feedstock) contain varying amounts of FFA, linoleic acid is used as FFA and intentionally added to high oleic acid canola oil containing less than 0.07% FFA. The process is catalyzed with potassium carbonate and evaluated at varying temperatures, stirring rates, reaction times and methanol oil ratios. The yields at the end of …