Design and development of microwave assisted biodiesel synthesis equipment

Exponentially growth of energy demand in transportation sector has raised concerns to energy security and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and there is a broad of consensus that transportation sector will continue to grow in the coming decades driven by the expanding commercial transportation activit

Project Title

Design and development of microwave assisted biodiesel synthesis equipment

Project Area of Specialization

Mechanical Engineering

Project Summary

Exponentially growth of energy demand in transportation sector has raised concerns to energy security and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and there is a broad of consensus that transportation sector will continue to grow in the coming decades driven by the expanding commercial transportation activity. In fact, it is estimated that the global transportation-related energy demand is expected to grow by more than 25 percent from 2017 to 2040. Besides that, about 25 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from this sector are caused by the burning of petroleum-based fossil fuels, mainly gasoline and diesel. Prior to that, renewable and carbon neutral efficient biofuels is required to replace fossil-derived fuels in near future towards energy conservation and environmental sustainability. Biodiesel is an alternative biofuel for diesel powered vehicles due to its renewability, biodegradability, and carbon neutrality. It is mainly derived from vegetable oil or animal fats through transesterification process in the presence of catalyst. Great thing about biodiesel is it can be produced from various sources such as edible oils, non-edible oils, animal fats, waste cooking oil (WCO), and algae oil.  In this project, WCO converted into biodiesel via microwave irradiation assisted transesterification using a modified household microwave.

Microwave assisted technology has shorter reaction time (10 times shorter than conventional methods), high quality and yield product. The max yield of WCO biodiesel obtained was 98.14% under operating parameters of time (6.5 minutes), methanol to oil ratio (13:1), rotational speed (800rpm), and catalyst amount (1 wt%).

Project Objectives

There are three objectives of the project.

•To improve the rate of reaction of biodiesel production method

•To optimize cost, time, energy and yield for biodiesel production

•To be independent of the non-renewable energy resources

Project Implementation Method

The project can be implemented at lab scale. There is no need to wait for hours to check different properties of biodiesel by conventional methods. Different properties and parameters can be optimized at lab scale in few minutes (less than 10 minutes).

Benefits of the Project

Microwave setup saved time, money, and energy as well. Time was reduced from 3 hours to 6.5 minutes. Almost 76% energy was saved as compared to conventional method. As a result, money was saved as well. Besides all of these, the quantity of by-product (glycerol) was also reduced by microwave assisted transesterification process.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The setup was consist of mechanical overhead stirer, microwave oven, condensor, three neck adopter, and flask. Microwave Oven was opearing at 700 W power and 240 voltage. Mechanical Overhead Stirrer was operating under 180 W power and 240 voltage. 

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Core Industry

Energy

Other Industries

Core Technology

Clean Tech

Other Technologies

Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and Clean Energy

Required Resources

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