Development of the production process of biodiesel from soy seed with cosolvent

Abstract

Due to the expected depletion of the energy generated by non-renewable fuel sources, the development of biofuels is needed. This investigation proposed developing a process for biodiesel with two-phase solvent extraction technology. The seed fed in the process was extracted with Hexane, methanol, and water solution with a mass proportion of 3:5.4:1 (Hexane: methanol: oil) to separate the free fatty acids from the crude oil. The reaction happened with homogeneous alkali catalysis in the presence of Hexane (cosolvent). It used a molar ratio of methanol: oil of 6:1 and a mass ratio of 0.75% NaOH and 1.49 Hexane. After the purification, 0.941 kg of biodiesel per kg of oil fed to the process was obtained, and it meets the ANP regulations in some of the physicochemical proprieties. It also obtained 0.0985 kg of glycerine per kg of oil fed to the process with 99% purity.

KEYWORDS:

• Transesterification
• biodiesel
• co-solvent
• methanol
• hexane

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).