Process optimization and simulation of biodiesel synthesis from waste cooking oil through supercritical transesterification reaction without catalyst
Anas Ahmed,
Abulhassan Ali,
Muhammad Mubashir,
Hooi Ren Lim,
Kuan Shiong Khoo,
Pau Loke Show
Affiliations
Anas Ahmed
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Jeddah , Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Abulhassan Ali
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Jeddah , Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Mubashir
Advanced Membranes & Porous Materials Center King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Building 4 Level 4 , Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
Hooi Ren Lim
Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University , Wenzhou 325035, People’s Republic of China; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Malaysia , 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University , Wenzhou 325035, People’s Republic of China; Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University , Shakhbout Bin Sultan St—Zone 1, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Malaysia , 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Department of Sustainable Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS , Chennai 602105, India
This study reports optimization and simulation of biodiesel synthesis from waste cooking oil through supercritical transesterification reaction without the use of any catalyst. Although the catalyst enhances the reaction rate but due to the presence of water contents in waste cooking oil, the use of catalyst could cause a negative impact on the biodiesel yield. The transesterification reaction without catalyst also offers the advantage of the reduction of pretreatment cost. This study comprises of two steps; first step involves the development and validation of process simulation scheme. The second step involves the optimization using Response Surface Methodology. Face-centered central composite design of experiments is used for experimental matrix development and subsequent statistical analysis of the results. Analysis of variance is employed for optimization purpose. In addition, a sensitivity study of the process parameters including pressure, temperature, and molar ration of oil-to-methanol was conducted. The statistical analysis reveals that temperature is the most influential process parameter as compared to pressure and oil-to-methanol molar ratio. The optimization study results in the maximum biodiesel yield (94.16%) at an optimum temperature of 274.8 °C, 7.02 bar pressure, and an oil-to-methanol molar ratio of 12.43.
