INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION PROCESS OF BIODIESEL:-
Based on experimental findings (optimum conditions) a process for large-scale production has been designed. Following are the different steps to be followed:
Purification:-
Crushing of oil seed is common method of extracting oil, Hence raw pongamia pinnata oil contains lot of impurities, hindering in the reaction, hence need to be removed. Filtration is used for purification of oil.
Neutralization: -
Neutralization converts large free fatty acids present in alkyl esters, which make the pongamia pinnata oil appropriate for industrial biodiesel production. Acids (such as sulphuric acid) is used for this purpose. After purification & neutralization a conversion of .95-.98 is achievable.
Preparation OF KOH – Alcohol Solution: -
The moisture free alcohol is used for preparation of KOH-ALCOHOL solution using standard agitator or mixer.
Chemical Reaction: -
The mixture of alcohol & catalyst is then charged to a closed reaction vessel containing pongamia pinnata oil at about 70 C. Reaction temperature is maintained at B.P. of mixture, as the rate of reaction is directly proportional to temperature. To prevent any loss of alcohol, condenser is attached to the reactor, which condenses the vapors of alcohol & refluxes back it to the reactor. Recommended reaction time vary from 30-40 min. Excess alcohol is normally used to ensure the total conversion of vegetable oil to its esters because of reversible nature of reaction. Amount of free fatty acids &water in the incoming oil should be controlled. If the free acid or water level in the reactor is to high, it may result in soap formation& separation of glycerin byproduct.
Separation: -
After the reaction is completed, the mixture gets divided in to two separate layers one constituting of biodiesel while the other constitutes of glycerin. The biodiesel layer is less dense & thus can be separated out using centrifuge.
Alcohol Recovery: -
Both the phases contains alcohol which must be recovered using flash evaporation process or by distillation. The recovered is reused in the process.
Glycerin Neutralization: -
The lower layer contains the glycerin, unused catalyst &soaps. Removal of alcohol gives 80-85% glycerin, which can be sold as crude glycerin. For further purification of glycerin distillation can be used, the salt obtained could be sent to fertilizer industry.
Biodiesel Purification: -
Biodiesel obtained from the upper layer contains traces of catalyst and soap. These can be removed by gently washing it with warm water.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH EFFECTS OF BIODIESEL :-
The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. However, Emissions of nitrogen dioxides are either slightly reduced or slightly increased depending on the duty cycle and testing methods. The use of biodiesel decreases the solid carbon fraction of particulate matter (since the oxygen in biodiesel enables more complete combustion to CO2), eliminates the sulphur fraction (as there is no sulphur in the fuel), while the soluble or hydrogen fraction stays the same or is increased. Therefore, biodiesel works well with new technologies such as oxidation catalysts.
As per U.S.EPA biodiesel has been comprehensively evaluated in terms of emissions and potential health effects under the Clean Air Act. These programs include stringent emissions testing protocols required by EPA for certification of fuels in the U.S. The data gathered through these tests include thorough inventory of the environmental and human health effects attributes that current technology will allow.
CONCLUSION:-
Bio-diesel is an alternative fuel derived from renewable biological sources, such as karanja oil. It can be used in compression ignition (diesel) engines without modifications.
With the ever-increasing demand of petroleum and depletion of their stocks, mankind is facing a global shortage of petroleum fuel. This has forced us to explore the other forms of substitutes of petrol, diesel and other petroleum products. With this point of view various materials were tried out which can be used as substitutes for diesel fuel.
Various tests are performed all over the World on that basis these fuels are similar to conventional diesel fuels. It is replacing the petroleum-based fuel; every gallon of Biodiesel displaces 0.95 gallons of petroleum diesel over its life cycle. Ecologically also biodiesel has been proved advantageous as it is biodegradable, nontoxic, free of sulfur and aromatic components, less release of CO2 into the environment above all renewable sources. Tests are carried out with this fuel on different vehicles; the only problem arising is choking of the engine, which is under research.
No doubt at present the price of karanja oil is supposed to be negligible, the cost production of Biodiesel will automatically reduced and thus we can produce a much cheaper fuel.
Thus it can be concluded now that use of biodiesel as fuel in our country as well as globally is in progress. Research and experimentation work is still going Worldwide.
Last part . Related : ADVANCED METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OF BIODIESEL
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