Conversion and characterization of biodiesel by transesterification of olive oil

Wong, Leh Feng (2013) Conversion and characterization of biodiesel by transesterification of olive oil. [Final Year Project Report] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The consumption of petroleum is increasing ceaselessly in the world. The awareness on depletion and detrimental environmental concerns of fossil fuels has been stimulating the growth of renewable liquid fuel. Vegetable oil has been emerging as the potential substitute of diesel, but it has to be modified into biodiesel to produce its combustion properties closer to those of diesel. In this study, basecatalyzed transesterification was used to derive the biodiesel from olive oil with the presence of methanol and potassium hydroxide (KOH) catalyst under microwave heating. The optimal reaction time was 6 min with total yield of 88%, while the further increase of reaction time led to the reduction of end product. The thermal stability, density, and flash point of the biodiesel were also analyzed. Biodiesel at 9 min reaction time had the highest thermal stability, while biodiesel at 4 min showed the poorest thermal stability. As compared to diesel, biodiesel had greater thermal stability. Thus, biodiesel mixing to diesel made the fuel more stable against heat, as well as to lower the density of the biodiesel in order to meet the ASTM D1298. B20 and B50 had met the ASTM D1298, but their thermogram showed that they are not mixed homogeneously. In contrast, B80 showed the better mixing. Lastly, the flash poi?t of pure biodiesel and biodiesel blends (> 220°C) are higher than diesel (81°C).

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