International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 33 Number 1- March 2016
The Study of the Effects of Transfesterication
Reaction Temperature on Corn Oil Biodiesel
Yield
Ribwar K. Abdulrahman#1, Soran D. Jalal#2 and Saif T. Manji#3
#1
Assistant Lecturer, #2Assistant Lecturer ,#3Lecturer, Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of
Engineering, Koya University
Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Abstract— The demand for energy in recent decades has
been dramatic. Moreover, the consumption of fossil fuel
causes several problems for the environment for example,
global warming phenomenon. Therefore, many researchers
have worked hardly to find out a new and sustainable
energy source. Biodiesel may consider one of the most
important and trusted sustainable fuel in recent decade.
Moreover, biodiesel possess several advantages over fossil
fuel fuels for example, it reduces the carbon dioxide
emission to the environment and reduce the sulphur
composites emission in the environments. Many researchers
have been achieved within biodiesel production. Thus, the
aim of this work is to produce Biodiesel form corn oil and
examine the effects of reaction temperature on the fuel yield.
It had been found that the reaction temperature has huge
effects of the fuel yield.
Keywords— Biodiesel,
Renewable Energy
Transfesterication,
Corn
Oil,
I. INTRODUCTION
The demand for fossil fuel in recent decades has
been dramatic. Moreover, the utilizing of fossil fuel is
contributing in global worming phenomenon.
Biodiesel fuel produces less CO, HC and particulate
emissions than petroleum diesel fuelled engines.
Indeed, biodiesel could be used directly in some
specific diesel engines [1]. However, it may be
blended with petroleum diesel. Corn seed can be
considered one of the most important oilseed crops
and it is contained considerable amounts of oil. Many
oil reservoirs are depleted every day. Moreover,
petroleum diesel engines are emitting significant
amounts of greenhouse gases every moment that
contribute directly in global worming phenomenon [2].
Therefore, many researchers and oil companies tried
to discover a new energy sources that can be used as
an alternative fuel for various uses. In fact, biodiesel
has received huge attention in the world to be used as
alternative fuel for diesel engines. Moreover, it
possesses several advantages over petroleum diesel for
example, reduces the demand of petroleum fuels,
nontoxic and reduces the global climate changes and
environmental pollution. Biodiesel fuelled engines
produce less CO, HC and particulate emissions than
petroleum diesel fuelled engines. Indeed, biodiesel
could be used directly in some specific diesel engines
[3]. However, it should be blended with petroleum
ISSN: 2231-5381
diesel, if it required to be used in normal diesel engine.
As a result, biodiesel blends can be used in diesel
engines without any major modification. Many
researchers have indicated that the biodiesel is quite
close to diesel fuel. Indeed, biodiesel could be
produced from vegetable oils and animal fats as well.
Moreover,
almost biodiesel is produced from
rapeseed oil and waste cooking oil. Indeed, it is quite
important to use low cost feedstock to reduce the
production cost of the biodiesel. Moreover, the use of
vegetable oil leads to shortage of food while use of
animal fat for human consumption is a health hazard.
Biodiesel could be produced by transesterification
reaction that is a three step reaction which converts the
initial triglycerides into a mixture of fatty acid methyl
ester and glycerol in the presence of a catalyst usually
homogeneous or heterogeneous. Indeed, there are
many catalysts can be used for this purpose for
example, alcohol such as, ethanol. Theses catalysts
can be used in the transesterification reaction [4].
Furthermore, other types could be utilized in this
reaction for example, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid
and sodium hydroxide [4]. Indeed, the effect of
temperature was investigated at 40 °C, 50 °C and
60 °C respectively. Indeed, at higher temperature the
solubility of the reactants increases leading to
reduction in the separation of methyl ester and
glycerol phase [4].
II. METHODOLOGY
The experiment has been achieved in a laboratory
by utilizing 250 ml flask. The flasks were kept in a
water bath maintained at 60°C. The transesterification
reaction has been used to produce the biodiesel. The
KOH catalyst has been dissolved with the required
amount of methanol. Then liquid has been added to
the oil in a specific flask. The reaction has been
achieved at 60°C and for 30 min at 700 rpm. Then, the
reaction was finished for oil, and then separator funnel
has been used to separate the reaction product into two
layers. Finally, two materials have been separated
from each other. At the bottom of separator, content
the impurities and glycerol. The biodiesel obtained at
the upper layer. Finally, the experiment has been
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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 33 Number 1- March 2016
repeated to study the effects of the reaction
temperature on the fuel yield.
III. RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Biodiesel produced from the corn oil using
transesterification reaction process. The process
optimization has been achieved to find out the effects
of the reaction temperature on the fuel yield. Three
temperatures have been examined, 40 °C, 50 °C and
60 °C at 7:1 methanol to oil ratio. Figure (1) shows the
relationship between the fuel yield and the reaction
temperature.
From above figure, it seems that the reaction
temperature is quite important factor that can effect on
the fuel yield. It seems that the marinating on 60 °C as
a reaction temperature gives optimal results.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, this study is attempted to produce
biofuel from corn oil and investigate the effects of
reaction temperature on the fuel yield. It can be argued
that biodiesel possess several advantages over
traditional petroleum diesel. The effect of temperature
was investigated at 40 °C 50 °C 60 °C respectively. It
can be argued that 60 °C is produced the optimal
biodiesel yield. However, it also quite recommended
that to achieve additional research works on the
process parameters that may effects the biodiesel yield
from the corn oil.
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Figure 1: The relationship between biodiesel yield
and reaction temperature.
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