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Authors |
Joy Marie R Mora, Carl Francis Z Lacson, Angelo Earvin Sy Choi, Tsair-Wang Chung, Joseph D Retumban, Ralf Ruffel M Abarca, Nurak Grisdanurak, Mark Daniel G de Luna |
| Abstract |
Alternative clean and renewable energy sources have been extensively sought in response to the expanding energy demand and decreasing fuel supplies. Biodiesel has been one of the alternate sources that has been consistently investigated. Accordingly, this study synthesized and characterized a pumice-supported LiOH catalyst further utilized in the transesterification process with soybean oil (considered an extremely viable feedstock in biodiesel production). The Box-Behnken Design-Response Surface Methodology (BBD-RSM) model particularly investigated operating parameters such as operation time (A), methanol-to-oil ratio (B), and catalyst loading (C) producing fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). In the results, the solid analysis confirmed lithium impregnation on the pumice support (detecting different lithium-silica crystals). Subsequently, BBD-RSM successfully modeled the catalytic transesterification process with high R2 (0.9936), adequate precision, and minimal associated error. The model also revealed the order of parameter significance as follows: B > A > C and satisfactorily predicted the optimum condition (A = 1.2鈥痟, B = 8.9:1, and C = 1.08% wt.) resulting in 98.8% FAME yield. Comparably, the produced FAME was within the limits set by the European biodiesel standard (EN 14214) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D6751) for parameters such as methyl ester content (98.8%), density (875鈥痥g/m3), and viscosity (4.88鈥痬m2/s). Conformance with these international standards demonstrates the potential assimilation of the produced biodiesel to its existing markets (feasibly ensuring larger commercial and industrial applications). Accordingly, the study establishes and enhances the viability of the LiOH-pumice catalytic transesterification of soybean oil for biodiesel production. |
Mindanao State
University - Iligan Institute of Technology