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Ethiopian Journal of Science and Sustainable Development (EJSSD)

p-ISSN 1998-0531 Volume 5 (1), 2018

Comparison Studies of Bio-Diesel Production from Seed Oils

Through a Sustainable Catalyst

K.S.K. Rao Patnaik1, Melakuu Tesfaye Alemea1, M. Usha Rani2, Y.

Rajeshwer Rao3

1
Adama Science and Technology University, School of Mechanical, Chemical and

Materials Engineering, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, P.O.Box.1888, Adama,

Ethiopia E.Mail:drkskrao@gmail.com
2
Dept.of Chemical Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

3
Department of Chemistry, Rajiv Gandhi University of knowledge Technologies,

IIIT Basara-504 107, Telangana State, India

Abstract
Increase in demand for energy production and its supply, rise in petroleum prices,

environmental issues have lead in search of new alternative energy resources. This

eventually lead in using edible oils as essential feed stock but in recent years, the

food verses fuel controversy made edible oil a non-ideal feed stock. In search for

alternative non-edible feed stocks, GuizotiaAbyssinica and CucumisSativus seed oils

were found to be potential feed stocks for the synthesis of Bio-Diesel through

transesterification process using Crystalline Manganese Carbonate as catalyst.

Crystalline Manganese Carbonate was found to be a sustainable catalyst since

higher yields were obtained at 1 wt% catalyst for both the oils. The catalyst is pure,

crystalline and ash colored in nature. It is a heterogeneous catalyst and promotes

reuse of the catalyst for all most seven successive runs. It is a low cost and easily

available, non-corrosive, versatile, environmental friendly, green and sustainable

catalyst for the transesterification of non-edible feed stocks. In the present study, a

comparison on effects of parameters like methanol quantity, catalyst amount,

reaction time and reaction temperature for GuizotiaAbyssinica and CucumisSativus

seed and Edible oils are done. The results show that using the catalyst

CrystallineManganese Carbonate gives higher yields and conversions. The catalyst

is neither corrosive nor emulsion forming and is easier to separate. The research

focuses on sustainable catalyst and feed stocks that are economic and environmental

friendly

Keywords: GuizotiaAbyssinica, CucumisSativus, Edibleoils, Manganese

Carbonate, Transesterification, Bio-diesel

1. Introduction

As petroleum reserves are

decreasing and demand for energy

production is increasing, Bio-diesel

is becoming a promising alternative

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fuel resource. Various attempts are

being made on the new feed stocks

and catalysts, for the production of

bio-diesel [1-5]. Bio-diesel

synthesis uses solid catalysts

which have cheaper production

cost and can be reused [6]. Bio-

diesel is chiefly produced by

transesterification process where

triglycerides of oils in the presence

of alcohol and catalyst yield

biodiesel. In USA and Europe,

Soybean and Rapeseed are

common feedstock for bio-diesel

production whereas Palm is the

feedstock in South Asia [7-10].

The above mentioned Soybean,

Rapeseed and Palm are the edible

oil feedstocks and use of these

edible oils for the production of

bio-diesel may lead to inflationary

pressures in vegetable oil market

[11-14]. Therefore, attempts are

being made in discovering non-

edible feedstocks for the

production of bio-diesel.

In the present work,

Guizotiaab yssinica and

Cucumissativus seed and various

Edible oils are taken and compared

for bio-diesel yields.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Materials:

Guizotia Abyssinica seeds are

collected from Araku, Vizag,

Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and

Karnataka, India Cucumissativus

seed oil, Crystalline Manganese

carbonate and Methanol are

purchased directly from the

laboratories.

Analysis of Guizotia Abyssinica

and CucumisSativus oils:

Guizotia Abyssinica and

Cucumis sativa seed oil (cucumber

oil) are subjected to Gas

chromatography to determine the

composition. The samples are

analyzed for their fatty acid

content. Table1 and Table2 give

the fatty acid composition of the

two oils.

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Table1: Fatty Acid Composition

of Guizotia Abyssinica oil

Fatty acids Percentage (%)

Composition

Palmitic

(C16/0)

9.2

Stearic

(C18/0)

10.1

Oleic (C18/1) 9.0

Linoleic

(C18/2)

71.7

Reuse and recovery of Catalyst:

In the present work, the

manganese carbonate catalyst is

recovered by filtration and washed

with 80°C distilled water 4-5

times. Then the catalyst is dried at

50°C for 35 hours in the hot air

oven. After the complete drying

the catalyst is used in the

transestrification reaction. The

efficiency of the catalyst is 95%.

The catalyst is still efficient even

after seven successive runs.

Experimental Procedure:

The materials are taken in the

reaction flask and heated to a

desired temperature. The mixture

of catalyst in methanol with

different concentrations is used for

the conversion of Cucumis Sativa

seed oil and GuizotiaAbyssinica

seed oil to FAME.

Transesterification reactions are

performed in a 150 ml round

bottom flask with a reflux

condenser, stirring is provided by

a magnetic stirrer. The stirrer is set

at a constant speed throughout the

experiments. The methanol and

catalyst mixture are added to the

round bottom flask containing oil.

At that point, the reactions are kept

under reflux conditions. The

formation of methyl esters from

the oils are monitored by thin layer

chromatography. The methyl

esters are washed with distilled

water and concentrated under

vacuum to afford FAME.

3. Results and Discussion

Effect of methanol to oil ratio:

Methanol to oil ratio is one of

the most important variables in

methyl ester production. Fig.1

shows, 1:1 methanol to oil ratio

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gives highest biodiesel yield for

Cucumis Sativus seed oil whereas

5:1 methanol to oil ratio gives

highest biodiesel yield for

Guizotia Abyssinica seed oil.

Table2: Fatty Acid Composition

of CucumisSativus oil:

Figure.1: Effect of methanol to oil

ratio

Effect of Catalyst quantity:

Fig.2 Shows at 1 wt% catalyst

is observed with higher yields. It is

obtained 95% of biodiesel yield

from Guizotiaabyssinica seed oil

and 86% of biodiesel yield from

Cucumis Sativa seed oil.

Figure.2: Effect of Catalyst

quantity

Effect of Reaction Temperature:

As temperature increases,

from Fig.3 it is observed that

Biodiesel yield increases. Beyond

700C emulsification takes place

which is not desirable.

Effect of Reaction time:

During the transesterification

reaction, continuous stirring is

provided at a constant rate. In

Fig.4, the conversion of

GuizotiaAbyssinica seed oil to

Biodiesel yield of 95% was

achieved in 180 min whereas for

Fatty acids Cucumber

oil %

Palmitic(C16/0) 11

Stearic(C18/0) 7

Oleic(C18/1) 14

Linoleic(C18/2) 68

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CucumisSativus seed oil it took

180 min to achieve 86% yield.

Figure.3: Effect of reaction temperature

Figure.4: Effect of reaction time

Comparison with other Edible

Oils:

Figures.5 compared with

different Vegetable oils with the

present study. It is concluded that

Vegetable oils primarily contain

trigycerides and their chemical

structure is significantly different

from that of mineral diesel.

Transterification is an efficient

method to convert high viscosity

Vegetable oils into a fuel with

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chemical properties similar to

those of mineral diesel.

Consequently, Vegetable oil

causes poor fuel atomization,

incomplete combustion and

carbon deposition on the injector

and valve seats, resulting in

serious engine fouling. [15]

Different approaches have been

considered to reduce the high

viscosity of Vegetable oils.

Biodiesel properties are strongly

influenced by the properties of the

individual fatty esters. [8] In

searching for alternative method

with Non-edible seed oils,

Guizotia Abyssinica and

CucumisSativus with Nanosized

Mn (II) carbonate could be used as

an efficient and selective catalyst.

The authors concluded that

Guizotia Abyssinica and

CucumisSativus Non-Edible seed

oils are better than Edible oils and

also to avoid the controversy of

Food and Fuel.

Figure.5: Effect of Methanol to Oil Ratio, reaction time, amount of catalyst

and reaction temperature on yield of biodiesel

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4. Conclusion

 The above graphs show that at

1:1 ratio of methanol to oil at

650C, catalyst weight of 1%

gives the highest yield of 86%

for CucumisSativus seed oil.

 At 5:1 ratio of methanol to oil

at 650C, catalyst weight of

1% gives the highest yield of

95% for GuizoAbyssinica

seed oil.

 It is observed that highest

yields are obtained at 1 wt%

catalyst for both the oils and

the catalyst can be reused.

Therefore, it can be

concluded that Crystalline

Manganese Carbonate as a

sustainable, green catalyst.

 The authors concluded that

Guizotia Abyssinica and

CucumisSativus Non-Edible

seed oils are better than

Edible oils and also to avoid

the controversy of Food and

Fuel.

Acknowledgement:

The authors would like to thank

the Principal, University College

of Technology, Osmania University,

Hyderabad, India for providing

research facilities. The authors

also want to acknowledge the

President, Adama Science and

Technology University and Dean,

SOMCME, Department of

Chemical Engineering, Adama,

Ethiopia for providing Computer

Facilities.

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