Intermediate Biodiesel Purification by Refined Glycerin Wash

• Main Author: Abd Rahman, Nazirah
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS 2012
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/9844/1/2012%20-%20Intermediate%20Biodiesel%20Purification%20by%20Refined%20Glycerin%20Wash.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/9844/

Biodiesel has attracts worldwide attention due to its potential of replacing fossilbased fuel. In order to conform the stringent international standard, downstream purification is an essential section in the overall process. The feasibility of crude glycerin as biodiesel purifier was investigated. Crude biodiesel was washed with refined glycerin under conditions that have been close to commercial operating practice possible. The correlation of the extraction variables; temperature, glycerin concentration and weight ratio of glycerin to biodiesel were investigated. Three basic parameters were investigated; glycerin concentration, extraction temperature and ratio of glycerin to biodiesel. Experiments were performed in order to determine the optimum condition of the glycerin-wash using Taguchi method. The pretreated biodiesel was further purified with water. Characterization on the biodiesel was done to ensure the standard requirement was fulfilled. The result show that glycerin wash can significantly remove the soap content. The integrated glycerin wash (60% glycerin purity, 85°C and 15wt% ratio of glycerin to biodiesel) followed by 15wt% water wash is proved to be a better method for biodiesel purification.