Influence of Fatty Acid Profiles during Supercritical Transesterification of Conventional and Non-Conventional Feedstocks: A Review

Gerald Kafuku, Makame Mbarawa

Department of Petroleum and Energy Engineering, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

DOI: 10.4236/ajac.2013.49060                

Abstract

In this study, the influence of fatty acids of both conventional and non-conventional oils in supercritical transesterification method has been reviewed. Literature on oils such as moringa oleifera, manketti, croton megalocarpus, palm and soybean has been reviewed to establish an understanding of the supercritical transesterification that employed methanol as alcohol. This study reveals that lower yield of methyl esters is observed when higher temperatures are employed in oils that are highly dominated with polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as manketti and croton megalocarpus. And the reason is that poly-unsaturated fatty acids that are present in the oils decompose easily at higher temperatures and thus reduce the methyl esters yield.

Keywords

Fatty Acid Profile; Biodiesel; Transesterification; Supercritical Methanol

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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