Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biodiesel Production Via Interesterification of Palm Oil and Ethyl Acetate Using Ion-Exchange Resin in a Packed-Bed Reactor

  • Published:
BioEnergy Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Interesterification reaction of palm oil and ethyl acetate for the synthesis of biodiesel was performed in a small-scale fixed-bed reactor. The reactor was packed with ion-exchange resin (RCP160M), which was used as catalyst for this work. The important factors affecting biodiesel content including reaction temperature, mass flow rate of reactants, and ethyl acetate-to-oil molar ratio were examined and optimized via the Box-Behnken design. Main effects and interactions of the variables on biodiesel content were addressed. The remarkable long-term stability of catalyst was also demonstrated for at least 72 h of continuous operation with relatively constant %FAEE. The optimal conditions yielding 99% of ester content were found as follows: reaction temperature of 113 °C, total mass flow rate of 5.4 × 10−4 kg/h, and ethyl acetate-to-oil molar ratio of 16.7:1. Considering the operating conditions and productivity parameter, this method could be further developed for efficient biodiesel production.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Atadashi IM, Aroua MK, Abdul Aziz AR, Sulaiman NMN (2013) The effects of catalysts in biodiesel production: a review. J Ind Eng Chem 19:14–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Atadashi IM, Aroua MK, Aziz AA (2011) Biodiesel separation and purification: a review. Renew Energy 36:437–443

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Tang ZE, Lim S, Pang YL, Ong HC, Lee KT (2018) Synthesis of biomass as heterogeneous catalyst for application in biodiesel production: State of the art and fundamental review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 92:235–253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Mendonca IM, Paes OARL, Maia PJS, Souza MP, Almeida RA, Silva CC, Duvoisin S, Freitas FA (2019) New heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production from waste tucumã peels (Astrocaryum aculeatum Meyer): parameters optimization study. Renew Energy 130:103–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Singh V, Belova L, Singh B, Sharma YC (2018) Biodiesel production using a novel heterogeneous catalyst, magnesium zirconate (Mg2Zr5O12): process optimization through response surface methodology (RSM). Energy Convers Manag 174:198–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Helwani Z, Aziz N, Bakar MZA, Mukhtar H, Kim J, Othman MR (2013) Conversion of Jatropha curcas oil into biodiesel using re-crystallized hydrotalcite. Energy Convers Manag 73:128–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ren Y, He B, Yan F, Wang H, Cheng Y, Lin L, Feng Y, Li J (2012) Continuous biodiesel production in a fixed bed reactor packed with anion-exchange resin as heterogeneous catalyst. Bioresour Technol 113:19–22

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Feng Y, Zhang A, Li J, He B (2011) A continuous process for biodiesel production in a fixed bed reactor packed with cation-exchange resin as heterogeneous catalyst. Bioresour Technol 102:3607–3609

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Tesser R, Serio MD, Casale L, Sannino L, Ledda M, Santacesaria E (2010) Acid exchange resins deactivation in the esterification of free fatty acids. Chem Eng J 161:212–222

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hajra B, Pathak AK, Guria C (2014) Optimal synthesis of methyl ester of Sal oil (Shorea robusta) using ion-exchange resin catalyst. Int J Ind Chem 5:95–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ozbay N, Oktar N, Tapan NA (2008) Esterification of free fatty acids in waste cooking oils (WCO): role of ion-exchange resins. Fuel 87:1789–1798

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Boffito DC, Mansi S, Leveque JM, Pirola C, Bianchi CL, Patience GS (2013) Ultrafast biodiesel production using ultrasound in batch and continuous reactors. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 1:1432–1439

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Son SM, Kimura H, Kusakabe K (2011) Esterification of oleic acid in a three-phase, fixed-bed reactor packed with a cation exchange resin catalyst. Bioresour Technol 102:2130–2132

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Li ZH, Lin PH, Wu JCS, Huang YT, Lin KS, Wu KCW (2013) A stirring packed-bed reactor to enhance the esterification-transesterification in biodiesel production by lowering mass-transfer resistance. Chem Eng J 234:9–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Santacesaria E, Tesser R, Serio MD, Guida M, Gaetano D, Agreda AG (2007) Kinetics and mass transfer of free fatty acids esterification with methanol in a tubular packed bed reactor: a Key Pretreatment in Biodiesel Production. Ind Eng Chem Res 46:5113–5121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Walter S, Malmberg S, Schmidt B, Liauw MA (2005) Comparison of microchannel and fixed bed reactors for selective oxidation reactions. Chem Eng Res Des 83:1019–1029

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Marx S (2016) Glycerol-free biodiesel production through transesterification: a review. Fuel Process Technol 151:139–147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Gonzalez-Garay A, Gonzalez-Miquel G, Guillen-Gosalbez G (2017) High-value propylene glycol from low-value biodiesel glycerol: a techno-economic and environmental assessment under uncertainty. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 5:5723–5732

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Miesiac I, Rogalinski A, Jozwiak P (2013) Transesterification of triglycerides with ethyl acetate. Fuel 105:169–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Casas A, Ramos MJ, Perez S (2011) Kinetics of chemical interesterification of sunflower oil with methyl acetate for biodiesel and triacetin production. Chem Eng J 171:1324–1332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Sustere Z, Murnieks R, Kampars V (2016) Chemical interesterification of rapeseed oil with methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl acetates and fuel properties of obtained mixtures. Fuel Process Technol 149:320–325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ang GT, Tan KT, Lee KT (2014) Recent development and economic analysis of glycerol-free processes via supercritical fluid transesterification for biodiesel production. Renew Sust Energ Rev 31:61–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Zare A, Nabi MN, Bodisco TA, Hossain FM, Rahman MM, Ristovski ZD, Brown RJ (2016) The effect of triacetin as a fuel additive to waste cooking biodiesel on engine performance and exhaust emissions. Fuel 182:640–649

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Zahan KA, Kano M (2018) Biodiesel production from palm oil, its by-products, and mill effluent: a review. Energies 11:2132–2156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Abidin SZ, Haigh KF, Saha B (2012) Esterification of free fatty acids in used cooking oil using ion-exchange resins as catalysts: an efficient pretreatment method for biodiesel feedstock. Ind Eng Chem Res 51:14653–14664

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Chueluecha N, Kaewchada A, Jaree A (2017) Biodiesel synthesis using heterogeneous catalyst in a packed microchannel. Energy Convers Manag 141:145–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Paterson G, Issariyakul T, Baroi C, Bassi A, Dalai A (2013) Ion-exchange resins as catalysts in transesterification of triolein. Catal Today 212:157–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Pasias S, Barakos N, Alexopoulos C, Papayannakos N (2006) Heterogeneously catalyzed esterification of FFAs in vegetable oils. Chem Eng Technol 29:1365–1371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Boz N, Degirmenbasi N, Kalyon DM (2015) Esterification and transesterification of waste cooking oil over Amberlyst15 and modified Amberlyst15 catalysts. Appl Catal B 165:723–730

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Yunus NM, Abidin SZ, Yee CS (2018) Studies on the performance of tubular flow reactor for esterification of free fatty acid from used cooking oil using highly porous cation exchange resin as catalyst. Energy Sour Part A 40:2518–2527

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Jacobson K, Gopinath R, Meher LC, Dalai AK (2008) Solid acid catalyzed biodiesel production from waste cooking oil. Appl Catal B 85:86–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Andrijanto E, Dawson EA, Brown DR (2012) Hypercrosslinked polystyrene sulphonic acid catalysts for the esterification of free fatty acids in biodiesel synthesis. Appl Catal B 115-116:261–268

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Casas A, Ramos MJ, Perez A (2011) New trends in biodiesel production: chemical interesterification of sunflower oil with methyl acetate. Biomass Bioenergy 35:1702–1709

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Goembira F, Saka S (2013) Optimization of biodiesel production by supercritical methyl acetate. Bioresour Technol 131:47–52

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Goembira F, Saka S (2015) Advanced supercritical methyl acetate method for biodiesel production from Pongamia pinnata oil. Renew Energy 83:1245–1249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Buasri A, Chaiyut N, Loryuenyong V, Rodklum C, Chaikwan T, Kumphan N (2012) Continuous process for biodiesel production in packed bed reactor from waste frying oil using potassium hydroxide supported on Jatropha curcas fruit shell as solid catalyst. Appl Sci 2:641–653

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Modi MK, Reddy JRC, Rao BVSK, Prasad RBN (2007) Lipase-mediated conversion of vegetable oils into biodiesel using ethyl acetate as acyl acceptor. Bioresour Technol 98:1260–1264

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Maddikeri GL, Pandit AB, Gogate PR (2013) Ultrasound assisted interesterification of waste cooking oil and methyl acetate for biodiesel and triacetin production. Fuel Process Technol 116:241–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Tan KT, Lee KY, Mohamed AR (2010) A glycerol-free process to produce biodiesel by supercritical methyl acetate technology: an optimization study via response surface methodology. Bioresour Technol 101:965–969

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Latchubugata CS, Kondapaneni RV, Patluri KK, Virendra U, Vedantam S (2018) Kinetics and optimization studies using response surface methodology in biodiesel production using heterogeneous catalyst. Chem Eng Res Des 135:129–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Casas A, Ramos MJ, Perez A (2012) Product separation after chemical interesterification of vegetable oils with methyl acetate. Part ii: liquid-liquid equilibrium. Ind Eng Chem Res 51:10201–10206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Chen YH, Huang YH, Lin RH, Shang NC, Chang CY, Chang CC, Chiang PC, Hu CY (2011) Biodiesel production in a rotating packed bed using K/g-Al2O3 solid catalyst. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 42:937–944

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Galia A, Alessio CA, Saracco G, Schiavo B, Scialdone O (2014) Interesterification of rapeseed oil catalyzed by tin octoate. Biomass Bioenergy 67:193–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Jeong GT, Park DH (2010) Synthesis of rapeseed biodiesel using short-chained alkyl acetates as acyl acceptor. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 161:195–208

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Andrade TA, Martin M, Errico M, Christensen KV (2019) Biodiesel production catalyzed by liquid andimmobilized enzymes: optimization and economic analysis. Chem Eng Res Des 141:1–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research was funded by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) under the International Research Network: Functional Porous Materials for Catalysis and Adsorption, grant number IRN61W0003, and the Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Nattee Akkarawatkhoosith & Attasak Jaree

  2. Department of Agro-Industrial, Food and Environmental Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bansue, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand

    Amaraporn Kaewchada

  3. Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Patumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Chawalit Ngamcharussrivichai

Authors
  1. Nattee Akkarawatkhoosith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amaraporn Kaewchada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chawalit Ngamcharussrivichai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Attasak Jaree
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Attasak Jaree.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Highlights

• Development of interesterification of palm oil and ethyl acetate was carried out.

• Novel ion-exchange resin was used to enhance the biodiesel synthesis.

• Continuous biodiesel production of 72 h was observed with constant of 99% FAEE.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Akkarawatkhoosith, N., Kaewchada, A., Ngamcharussrivichai, C. et al. Biodiesel Production Via Interesterification of Palm Oil and Ethyl Acetate Using Ion-Exchange Resin in a Packed-Bed Reactor. Bioenerg. Res. 13, 542–551 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-019-10051-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-019-10051-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation