| Author | Krishnan, Smitha |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.FB-08-10 |
| Subject(s) | Biodiesel fuels
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering in Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. FB-08-10 |
| Abstract | Biodiesel or Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) is an alternate fuel that is gaining importance in today's world. Biodiesel can be produced by various catalyst such as enzymes or chemical catalysts. In this study refined soybean oil, used soybean oil and refined rice bran oil were used as raw materials. The effect of molar ratio of methanol to oil, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, mixing intensity, type of oil and methods of methanolysis were studied. Refined soybean oil and used cooking oil were used as raw material for trans-esterification reaction using alkali method. The FAME % obtained for refined soybean oil and used soybean oil were 96.28±2.02 and 81.91±2.67 respectively. Experiments were also conducted using enzymatic method using Refined Rice Bran Oil. The FAME % obtained using enzymatic method was 65.13±5.72 using Immobilized lipase (Novozyme 435). The obtained bio-diesel was analysed as per ASTM specification for density at 15°C and viscosity at 40°C. The density and viscosity values were 885 kg/m³ and 4.67 cSt for biodiesel prepared from refined soybean oil. The values of density and viscosity for biodiesel prepared from used soybean oil were 883 kg/m³ and 4.5 cSt respectively. The diesel engine test was conducted and the performance evaluated for petroleum diesel and biodiesel. The brake thermal efficiency and system efficiency is more for biodiesel than petroleum diesel. Biodiesel from refined oil was as per required specifications and could serve as a good fuel. Further experiments with used cooking oil would result in an applicable process. Consideration of all process parameters will be required before an enzyme catalyzed process can be obtained |
| Year | 2008 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. FB-08-10 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology (FB) |
| Chairperson(s) | Rakshit, Sudip Kumar; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Athapol Noomhorm;Jayasuriya, H. P. W.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2008 |