Selection of the most beneficial raw materials for the synthesis of biodiesel from a standpoint of its yield and physicochemical properties

Biodiesel presents itself as one of the most promising alternative energy sources at the present time, both as a pure fuel and a mixed component of petroleum-based diesel fuels. According to research works carried out around the world, the addition of biodiesel to diesel oil is established to significantly improve the environmental friendliness of this oil product. Nevertheless, its effect on most regulated operational indicators remains ambiguous due to the characteristics of biodiesel fuel varying greatly depending on the feed-stock. The present paper is aimed at resolving the issue of selecting the most beneficial raw material for the synthesis of biodiesel from the perspective of the target product yield, physicochemical and low temperature characteristics. In this study, biodiesel was synthesised from five different edible vegetable oils (sunflower, mustard, linseed, corn and camelina) using ethanol and potassium hydroxide as transesterifying agent and catalyst, respectively. The main physicochemical (density, dynamic and kinematic viscosity, molecular weight) and low-temperature (cloud point and pour point) properties of vegetable oils, as well as biodiesel fuels derived therefrom, are determined. According to the obtained yield values of the target product, sunflower oil is shown to be the optimal raw material for the synthesis of biodiesel. From the position of their physical and chemical properties, sunflower and corn oil appear to equally preferential, while, with regard to low temperature properties, mustard oil turns out to be the optimal feedstock. Sunflower oil was additionally determined to be a leader in terms of economics. The paper presents recommendations for choosing the most preferable raw materials for the synthesis of biodiesel, which are useful in application of biodiesel as a mixed component for commercial diesel fuels.

1. Erdiwansyah, Mamat R, Sani MSM, Sudhakar K, Kadarohman A, Sardjono RE. An over-view of Higher alcohol and biodiesel as alternative fuels in engines. Energy Reports. 2019;5:467–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2019.04.009

2. Markov VA, Kaskov SI, Loboda SS. Vegetable Oils as an Environmentally Safe Additive to Petroleum Diesel Fuel. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedenii. Mashinostroenie = Proceedings of Higher Educational Institutions. Mashine Building. 2018;7:48–60. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.18698/0536-1044-2018-7-48-60

3. Dwivedi G, Jain S, Sharma MP. Impact analysis of biodiesel on engine performance – A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2011;15:4633–4641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.07.089

4. Srithar K, Balasubramanian KA. Dual biodiesel for diesel engine -Property, performance and emission analysis. International Energy Journal. 2014;14(3):107–120.

5. Tongroon M, Saisirirat P, Suebwong A, Aunchaisri J, Kananont M, Chollacoop N. Combustion and emission characteristics investigation of diesel-ethanol-biodiesel blended fuels in a compression-ignition engine and benefit analysis. Fuel. 2019;255:115728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.115728

6. Bogdanov IA, Altynov AA, Belinskaya NS, Kirgina MV. Study of the influence of the composition of straightrun diesel fuels on the effectiveness of low-temperature additives. Neftepererabotka i neftekhimiya. Nauchno-tekhnicheskie dostizheniya i peredovoi opyt = Oil refining and petrochemistry. Scientific and technological achievements and advanced experience. 2018;11:37–42. (In Russian)

7. Kapustin VM, Karpov SA, Saydakhmedov AI. Biodiesel: advantages, lacks and prospects of industrial production. Neftepererabotka i neftekhimiya. Nauchno-tekhnicheskie dostizheniya i peredovoi opyt = Oil refining and petrochemistry. scientific and technological achievements and advanced experience. 2011;4:49–54. (In Russian)

8. Levterov A, Savitskyi V, Levterova L. Experimental researches of motor qualities of blenderized biodiesel fuel. Avtomobil'nyi transport = Auto-mobile transport. 2011;28:81–84. (In Russian)

9. Dvoretsky SI, Zazulya AN, Nagornov SA, Romantsova SV, Ryazantseva IA. Biodiesel Production from Organic Raw Materials Voprosy sovremennoi nauki i praktiki. Universitet im. V.I. Vernadskogo = Problems of Contemporary Science and Practice. Vernadsky University. 2012;5:126–135. (In Russian)

10. Günay ME, Türker L, Tapan N.A. Significant parameters and technological advancements in biodiesel production systems. Fuel. 2019;250:27–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.03.147

11. Tapan NA, Yıldırım R, Günay ME. Analysis of past experimental data in literature to determine conditions for high performance in biodiesel production. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. 2016; 10(4):422–434. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.1650

12. Islam A, Taufiq-Yap YH, Chan ES Moniruzzaman M, Islam S, Nabi MN. Advances in solid-catalytic and non-catalytic technologies for biodiesel production. Energy Conversion and Management. 2014;88:1200–1218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2014.04.037

13. Gusniah A, Veny H, Hamzah F. Ultrasonic assisted enzymatic transesterification for biodiesel production. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. 2019;58(2):581–589. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.8b03570

14. Sun S, Guo J, Duan X. Biodiesel preparation from Phoenix tree seed oil using ethanol as acyl acceptor. Industrial Crops and Products. 2019;137:270–275.

15. Yang XX, Wang YT, Yang YT, Feng EZ, Luo J, Zhang F, et al. Catalytic transesterification to biodiesel at room temperature over several solid bases. Energy Conversion and Management. 2018; 164:112–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.02.085

16. Abbah EC, Nwandikom GI, Egwuonwu CC, Nwakuba NR. Effect of reaction temperature on the yield of biodiesel from neem seed oil. American Journal of Energy Science. 2016; 3(3):16–20.

17. Leung DYC, Guo Y. Transesterification of neat and used frying oil: optimization for biodiesel production. Fuel Processing Technology. 2006;87 (10):883–890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2006.06.003

18. Singh D, Sharma D, Soni SL, Sharma S, Kumar D. Chemical compositions, properties, and standards for different generation biodiesels: A review. Fuel. 2019;253:60–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.04.174

19. Snåre M., Mäki-Arvela P., Simakova I.L., Myllyoja J., Murzin D.Yu. Overview of catalytic methods for production of next generation biodiesel from natural oils and fats. Sverkhkriticheskie flyuidy: teoriya i praktika. = Supercritical Fluids: Theory and Practice. 2009;4(1):3–17. (In Russian)

20. Sarguzhieva BA. Alcoholysis and transesterification in the production process biofuel. Nauka v tsentral'noi Rossii = Science in Central Russia. 2015;5(7):75–84. (In Russian)