Producing Renewable Biodiesel Fuel Using the Transesterification Process ()
ABSTRACT
Biodiesel fuels are considered an
alternative to fossil fuels. This is one of the effective means of transferring
solar energy to dynamic energy via photosynthesis. It is also being considered in
order to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide production worldwide. Biodiesel
fuels are a renewable, biodegradable, and clean energy source. Producing enough
biofuels to replace fossil fuels will bring the advantages of reduced air
pollution and reduced other environmental impacts of fossil fuels. In this
study, the response surface methodology (RSM) was used to design the
experimental runs and to discuss the manufacturing variables on the
transesterification of palm oil into fatty acid methyl ester (i.e. biodiesel
fuel). The variation of the degree of effect for each variable in the
transesterification process was observed. A second-order model was obtained to
predict the yield of biodiesel fuel and the viscosity as a function of the
reaction time, the mass fraction of catalyst in methanol and the molar ratio of
methanol to plant oil. The experimental data of the yield and the viscosity of
biodiesel fuels in different manufacturing variables are discussed in this
study. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also applied to discuss the main factor
and interaction factor effects of the manufacturing variables on the responses
of the yield of unrefined biodiesel fuels. The shortage of farmland in Taiwan
is a problem that needs to be solved before mass propagation of biofuels can be
accomplished. In southeastern Asia, there are many farms and most energy farm
products are cultivated (e.g. palm oil or Jatropha oil). In addition to sunflowers
and soybeans in Taiwan, those energy farm products are possible choices for
production of biodiesel fuel in Taiwan. The cooperation between Indonesia and
Taiwan on the plantation of palm or Jatropha trees in Indonesia has conducted
and will be one of the possible ways to solve the problem of the shortage of
energy farm products in Taiwan.
Share and Cite:
Chung, T. and Chen, Y. (2015) Producing Renewable Biodiesel Fuel Using the Transesterification Process.
World Journal of Engineering and Technology,
3, 105-110. doi:
10.4236/wjet.2015.33C016.