A new process for catalyst-free production of biodiesel
Currently production of Glycerol as a by-product in the conventional processes for biodiesel fuel (BDF) production is unavoidable. But the current method in BDF production is the alkaline catalyzed method that uses an alkaline catalyst such as caustic soda to accelerate the reaction. BDF is produced through process of extracting fatty acids from oil molecules by way of reacting them with methanol which as a result would convert fatty acids to fatty acid methyl ester otherwise known as FAME. BDF production through this method requires a complex production process and generation of wastewater that needs to be treated later on resulting in a high cost plus presenting some environmental issues. Based on this, Japanese research group consisting of the National Food Research Institute of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, the University of Tokyo, the University of Shiga Prefecture and Kajima Corp. made announcement on a new method in BDF production that does not require any catalyst. In this newly developed method FAME is produced by way of reaction of heated raw oil with high temperature methanol vapor at a near atmospheric pressure in an absence of a catalyst resulting in a simpler process and at the same time reducing the amount of generated wastewater, while generating highly pure glycerol which is recovered as a by-product. According to the research group they have succeeded in producing 425 liters of FAME per day from waste oil that contains mainly palm oil. The new method needs to go through further testing for additional data collection with an aim for its commercialization in a near future.
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