Taguchi Method and Grey Relational Analysis to Improve in Situ Production of FAME from Sunflower and Jatropha curcas Kernels with Subcritical Solvent Mixture. (18th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sutanto, Sylviana; Go, Alchris Woo; Ismadji, Suryadi; Ju, Yi‐Hsu
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. Volume 92:Number 10(2015)
• Page Start: 1513
• Page End: 1523
• Publication Date: 2015-09-18
• Subjects: Biodiesel -- Jatropha curcas -- Subcritical methanol -- Subcritical acetic acid -- Sunflower oil -- (trans)Esterification; Oils and fats -- Periodicals; Soap -- Periodicals; Fats -- Periodicals; Food-Processing Industry -- Periodicals; Acides gras -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Huiles et graisses -- Périodiques; Savon -- Périodiques; Oliën; Chemie; Oils and fats; Soap; Periodicals; 547.77
• DOI: 10.1007/s11746-015-2714-4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-021X

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigates the possibility of employing in situ ( trans )esterification (ISTE) under the subcritical condition (200–250 °C) of the solvent mixture (methanol + acetic acid) with a high solid loading and a low solvent to solid ratio (SSR). The Taguchi method together with grey relational analysis was used to improve both FAME yield and productivity. It was found that temperature reaction time and SSR were factors which contributed the most in obtaining high FAME yields. In addition to the above‐mentioned factors the addition of acetic acid also significantly improved the productivity. Employing the following conditions: 250 °C; 8.8 MPa; 3–7 mL/g SSR; 10 % acetic acid was found to provide an improved FAME yield and productivity. A confirmatory test resulted in a FAME yield of 87.5–92.7 % for sunflower kernels and 88.2–97.22 % for Jatropha curcas L. kernels and productivity up to 37.5 kg/m 3 /h can be obtained with good repeatability. Furthermore, the process developed in this study can tolerate moisture and a free fatty acid content of up to 25 %. The direct application of the method using whole kernels was also investigated.