Evaluation of the Purification Process of Biodiesel Obtained from Waste Cooking oil Using the Optimal wet Method
Subject Areas :
Keywords: Optimization, Biodiesel, Waste cooking oil, wet purification,
Abstract :
Reza Hasankhani 1*, Ali Zenozi 2 1- Master's degree student, Islamic Azad University, Takestan Branch, Takestan, Iran 2- Biosystems engineering research group, Agricultural Research Institute, Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Iran * Coresponding author: hasankhani.r@srbiau.ac.ir Waste cooking oil can be converted into a standard fuel for diesel engines. To achieve this goal, in this study, restaurant cooking oil residues were first collected. After the initial preparation of waste oil, the transesterification reaction was carried out with methanol. After this reaction, glycerine settled at the bottom of the tank, and its removal and separation from biodiesel was done. Purification of biodiesel with water was done. This process was carried out at 50°C for 40 minutes. In order to ensure the absorption of impurities, the turbidity of the effluents was evaluated. The percentage of wastewater turbidity indicates the efficiency and effectiveness of purification operations. In this method, only 3 liters of water were used to produce each liter of standard biodiesel. After the purification stage, the quality and purity of the produced fuel was tested through gas chromatography. The results of this test confirm the complete transesterification reaction and obtaining a quality biofuel. Finally, three important characteristics of density, kinematic viscosity and flash point of produced biodiesel were measured and tested. The density was 886.2 Kg.m-3, the kinematic viscosity was Cst 3.86, and the flash point was 158 °C. These values are in full compliance with ASTM standards. Despite the use of waste cooking oil as a raw material, the final obtained fuel has a significant superiority in terms of quality and purity compared to biodiesel produced from fresh vegetable oils. Based on this, the purification of biodiesel using the optimal wet method is an economical, easy-to-use and practical method that was able to provide a high-quality and standard biofuel from cooking oil waste.
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