Study of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil by ethyl transesterification and its purification using adsorption processes Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • In recent years, a collective effort is made in search of alternative forms of energy through renewable and more friendly to the environment sources, currently, about 80% of the world consumption of energy comes from fossil fuels. The environmental problems associated with the use of these non-renewable fuels include air pollution and global warming, moreover, the uncertain price of a barrel of oil in the current economy also causes economic problems in its dependence. Thus, due to these problems in the dependence on fossil fuels for industry, transport and domestic purposes, research on alternative energy sources has become ever more common [1]. In this scenario, biodiesel presents itself as a renewable fuel, environmentally friendly and with similar characteristics to common diesel. According to [2] in 2020, global biodiesel production reached 46.45 million tons, with biodiesel from waste cooking oils (WCO) constituting approximately 10% of this total, with Europe accounting for approximately 33% and Brazil 12% of global production. The cost of conventional biodiesel production is higher than the production of diesel from petroleum, since it is produced mainly from high quality virgin oils, it is estimated that 70 to 80% of the total cost of biodiesel production is associated with the cost of their raw materials [3]. With this perspective, biodiesel production from WCO has become an economic opportunity and an environmental strategy to help address global renewable energy challenges and contribute to a sustainable society [4]. Oil with hours of frying at high temperatures results in the loss of its edible properties and nutritional value, the disposal of used cooking oil remains an issue due to its environmental and human health threats, countries are now imposing penalties and restrictions on the disposal of this cooking waste in drainage systems and/or natural water bodies [5]. In this scenario, the collection and destination of these oils for the production of a value-added and environmentally friendly biofuel presents itself as an opportunity to be investigated
  • In the year 2020, global biodiesel production reached 46.45 million tons, with biodiesel from waste cooking oils (WCO) constituting approximately 10% of this total, with Europe accounting for approximately 33% and Brazil 12% of global production [1]. The cost of conventional biodiesel production is higher than the production of diesel from petroleum, since it is produced mainly from high quality virgin oils, it is estimated that 70 to 80% of the total cost of biodiesel production is associated with the cost of the raw materials [2]. With this perspective, biodiesel production from WCO has become an economic opportunity and an environmental strategy to help address global renewable energy challenges and contribute to a sustainable society [3]. Oil with hours of frying at high temperatures results in the loss of its edible properties and nutritional value, the disposal of used cooking oil remains an issue due to its environmental and human health threats [4]. In this scenario, the collection and destination of these oils for the production of a value-added and environmentally friendly biofuel presents itself as an opportunity to be investigated. Adsorption and ion exchange are the most commonly used affinity separation processes in biodiesel purification worldwide, these methods are also known as dry washing methods. In these processes, an appropriate adsorbent is used to selectively remove certain impurities from the liquid phase onto its surface. Dry cleaning offers several advantages, including simple integration into an existing plant, shorter purification time, lower water consumption and lower effluent generation
  • The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/0690/2020)
  • The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021).

publication date

  • January 1, 2022