In-situ transesterification of seeds of invasive Chinese tallow trees (Triadica sebifera L.) in a microwave batch system (GREEN(3)) using hexane as co-solvent: Biodiesel production and process optimization

Mohamad Barekati-Goudarzi; Dorin Boldor; Divine B Nde

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.028

In-situ transesterification of seeds of invasive Chinese tallow trees (Triadica sebifera L.) in a microwave batch system (GREEN(3)) using hexane as co-solvent: Biodiesel production and process optimization

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Feb:201:97-104. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.028. Epub 2015 Nov 23.

Authors

Mohamad Barekati-Goudarzi¹, Dorin Boldor², Divine B Nde³

Affiliations

¹ Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, BAE Department, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States.
² Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, BAE Department, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States. Electronic address: dboldor@agcenter.lsu.edu.
³ Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, BAE Department, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States; University of Bamenda, Department of Food Science and Bio-resource Technology, College of Technology, P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, Cameroon.

PMID: 26638139
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.028

Abstract

In-situ transesterification (simultaneous extraction and transesterification) of Chinese tallow tree seeds into methyl esters using a batch microwave system was investigated in this study. A high degree of oil extraction and efficient conversion of oil to biodiesel were found in the proposed range. The process was further optimized in terms of product yields and conversion rates using Doehlert optimization methodology. Based on the experimental results and statistical analysis, the optimal production yield conditions for this process were determined as: catalyst concentration of 1.74wt.%, solvent ratio about 3 (v/w), reaction time of 20min and temperature of 58.1°C. H(+)NMR was used to calculate reaction conversion. All methyl esters produced using this method met ASTM biodiesel quality specifications.

Keywords: Biodiesel; Chinese tallow seeds; In-situ transesterification optimization; Microwave; Triadica sebifera L..

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Biofuels*
Catalysis
Esterification
Hexanes / chemistry*
Introduced Species
Methyl Ethers / chemistry*
Microwaves
Sapium / chemistry*
Seeds / chemistry*
Solvents / chemistry
Temperature

Substances

Biofuels
Hexanes
Methyl Ethers
Solvents
n-hexane