April 2011, Volume 2, No.

2
International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Production of Biodiesel from Non-edible plant oils

having high FFA content.
M.Mathiyazhagan1, A.Ganapathi2, B. Jaganath3, N. Renganayaki4, And N. Sasireka5
1, 2 & 3
Department of Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India.
4&5
Department of Biotechnology, Srinivasan College of Arts and Science, Perambalur, Tamilnadu, India.
* Corresponding author: mathibdu@gmail.com.

Abstract
Biodiesel is a more attractive alternative fuel to diesel engines. Because, it is a renewable and non-polluted fuel that can be produced
from plant and animal fats. Biodiesel emits low pollutants (except NOx) than petroleum diesel. But the major problem arises for the
commercialization of biodiesel is its cost. Since most of the biodiesels were derived from edible oils like soy bean, sunflower,
rapeseed, palm etc. These oils are essentially edible in India and other developing countries. On the other hand, diversion of edible oils
as feed stocks for biodiesel production leads to food crisis. Therefore this research mainly concentrates the non-edible oils as feed
stocks for biodiesel production to reduce the cost of biodiesel. Normally alkali catalyzed method was followed for biodiesel
production process. However the non-edible oils having high FFA content which is not suitable for normal transesterification process.
Hence a two-step catalyzed method was used to prepare the biodiesel. For this study the following non-edible oil samples such as
Jatropha, Pongamia, Madhuca and Azhadirachta were used to extract the biodiesel. For this study biodiesel yield from various non-
edible oils and its cost optimization were discussed.

Key words: Non-edible oils, Renewable fuel, Biodiesel, Pollution, Free Fatty Acid (FFA), Two-step catalyzed method.
1. Introduction
The concept of vegetable oils as fuel is not new. It
was proposed by Rudolf diesel at the time of Second
World War. He used pea nut oil as a fuel in diesel engine.
The major obstacle for commercialization of biodiesel
(BD) is its cost approximately 70-90% of biodiesel cost is
arises from the cost of feed stocks (Canakci, M., Van
Gerpen, J., 2001). Because most of the biodiesels were
prepared from edible oils like soybean (de Oliveira,
2005), rapeseed (Jeong and Park, 1996), sunflower
(Vicente, et al., 2004), safflower (Meka, et al., 2007),
canola (Singh, et al., 2006), palm (Darnoko and
Cheryman, 2000; Cheng, et al., 2004) and fish oil (El
Mashad, et al., 2006). Cost of edible oils is very higher
than PD (Petroleum Diesel) and we use edible oils for
biodiesel production leads food oil crisis. The above
problem can be solved by using cheapest, low cost non
edible oils such as Jatropha, Pongamia, Madhuca and
Azhadirachta as feed stocks for BD production. However
the direct use of vegetable oils as fuel can cause
numerous engine problems like poor fuel atomization,
incomplete combustion and carbon deposition on fuel
injector and engine fouling (Sridharan and Mathai, 1974;
Encinar et al., 2002; Williamson, A. M.; Badr, O., 1998;
Karaosmanoglu, F.; et al., 2000). This is due to the
presence of higher viscosity (about 11-17 times higher
than petroleum diesel) of vegetable oils. Hence the
viscosity of vegetable oils can be reduced by several
methods which include blending of oils,
microemulsification, pyrolysis and transesterification (Ma
and Hanna, 1999). Among this transesterification is
widely used for industrial biodiesel production. Because it
gives high yield with low temperature, pressure and short
reaction time. Transesterification is a chemical reaction
involving triglycerides with alcohol in the presence of
catalyst (Fig-1).
Fig-1: Transesterification of triglycerides
Based on the use of catalyst the transesterification can
be divided in to three types they are acid catalyzed, alkali
catalyzed and enzyme catalyzed method. For
transesterification process methanol was commonly used.
Because methanol is cheaper than ethanol and the
recovery of unreacted methanol is easier (Zhou and
Boocock, 2003). In the case of base catalyst potassium
hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are used,
because it is less expensive and easy to handle in storage
and transport. However most of the studies show best
properties of biodiesel was obtained by using potassium
hydroxide as catalyst (Encinar, et al., 2005; Jeong and
 Park, 1996; Karmee, 2005; Dorado, et al., 2004; as that of acid catalyzed method. The top layer was
Dorado, et al., 2002; Darnoko and Cheryman, 2000; measured and it was saved for purification process.
Ugheoke, et al., 2007; El-Mashad, et al., 2006). Besides
some studies show best result with the use of sodium
hydroxide as fuel (Felizardo, et al., 2006; Vicente, et al.,
2004; Cheng, et al., 2004; de Oliveira, 2005).
Nevertheless base catalyzed transesterification method is
commonly employed for BD production. Since, it is more
economical method than other methods (Singh, et al.,
2006). But base method is not suitable if the oils having
high FFA content such as above 3% (Dorado, et al.,
2002). In general the unpurified oil samples having high
FFA content (Free Fatty Acid) particularly non-edible
oils. This high FFA content of oil samples consumes the
catalyst to form soap, Soap formation reduces the catalyst
effect leads to gel formation and makes the separation of
glycerol from product (Guo and Leung, 2003) is difficult.
In this situation a two step catalyzed method (Wang et al.,
2007; Gerpen and Knothe, 2005 and Zhang et al., 2003)
such as acid method followed by alkali method was used
to prepare the biodiesel from the following non-edible
oils like Jatropha, Pongamia, Madhuca and Azhadirachta.

2. Materials and Methods Fig-2: Mechanism of base catalyzed transesterification

This research was carried out in the Department of
Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli,
Tamilnadu. The main aim of this study is to achieve the
maximum conversion of biodiesel from the oils having
high FFA content by using a two step catalyzed
transesterification method (acid method followed by
alkali method). For this study the following non-edible oil
samples such as Jatropha curcus L., (Kattamanakku)
Pongamia pinnata L., (Pungam) Madhuca indica J.F.
Gmel (Illupai) and Azhadirachta indica A. Juss (Neem)
were collected from authorized oil industries
(Renulakshmi Agro Industries, Coimbatore, and Saravana
Oil Mills, Keeranoor, Tamilnadu).
2.1 Acid method
In this method high FFA content of non-edible oils are
reduced below 3% by using acid pretreatment. It
comprises the preheating of oil samples in water bath at
60 °C for 30 min. The acid catalyst mixture (10 ml H2SO4
mixed with 200 ml methanol/ liter oil samples) was added
to preheated oil samples and it kept in water bath for 3-4
hrs at 60 ºC. After the reaction, the sample shows two
distinct layer such as upper ester layer and lower glycerol
layer. The lower glycerol layer was decanted and the
upper layer was measured and stored for further study (for
alkali catalyzed method).
2.3 Purification of product
After transesterification the ester layer may contain
unreacted catalyst, methanol and residual glycerol. These
impurities were removed by hot water treatment. The
water washing method was continued (4-6 times) until the
water layer becomes clear. For this process equal amount
of hot distilled water was used to remove the impurities.
2.4 Drying of product
After the completion of purification process the ester
layer may contain some amount of water and methanol.
This should be removed before the commercialization of
fuel. Because methanol reduces the flash point of fuel and
it have corrosive nature to fuel hoses. Water content is
responsible for the growth of biological organisms and it
also increases the acid value of fuel. Hence the ester layer
was heated in hot plate with stirrer at 100°c for 15 to 30
min to remove the water and methanol content present in
the product (biodiesel). Finally the dried biodiesel fuel
was saved.

2.2 Alkali/Base catalyzed method

For this study the pretreated (acid treated) oil samples
were heated, addition of alkali catalyst mixture (7.5 gram
KOH with 200 ml Methanol/liter oil samples). The
mixture was shacked and incubated to water bath at 60 ºC
for 1-2 hrs. Finally the samples show two distinct layers

120
 obtained from Jatropha oil. Lower ester yield indicates
higher removal of glycerol leading to reduction of
viscosity than other oil samples.
Non-edible oils
Table-2: Yield of Biodiesel using Alkali catalyst
Source Oil H2SO4 Methan Glycer Ester
sample volume ol (ml) ol layer(
(ml) (ml) (ml/lit) ml/lit)
Methanol+ H2SO4 Pretreatment
Jatropha 1000 10 200 125 1185
Pongamia 1000 10 200 160 1040
Madhuca 1000 10 200 180 1020
Methanol +KOH Pretreated oil Azadirachta 1000 10 200 135 1065
In alkali catalyzed method maximum ester conversion
was achieved from Azadirachta oil and the lowest ester
conversion was obtained from Pongamia oil. Similarly
Transesterification Glycerol highest glycerol was achieved from Azadirachta oil and
lowest glycerol was obtained from Madhuca oil sample.
However on the basis of biodiesel quality alkali catalyzed
Crude Biodiesel Purification method gives high purity biodiesel than acid method.
Higher glycerol production indicates complete conversion
of triglycerides in to esters resulting in the severe
reduction of viscosity of vegetable oil.
Hot Dis. Water Washing tank Soap/Pears

3.1 Optimization of biodiesel cost:

Table-3: Comparison of non-edible oils Biodiesel cost optimization
Pure Biodiesel with edible oils and Petroleum diesel (PD).

Cost of edible 4062$/liter Cost of Non 226$/kg

oils edible oil
Diesel Engine seeds/kg
- - 3-5 kg seeds 226$X226$
produces one = 1128$
Fig-3: Flow chart of Biodiesel production from non-edible oils
litter oil
- - Oil extraction & 90$/kg,
3. Results and Discussion other charges 226$X90$
In the present study the high FFA content of non- = 451$
edible oils such as Jatropha curcus, Pongamia pinnata, - - Total 1128$+451$
= 1580$
Madhuca indica and Azhadirachta indica are effectively - - Less cost of oil 135$/kg
converted in to biodiesel fuel by using two-step catalyzed cake
method. After the transesterification, the ester layer was - - 5 kg seeds 181$X135$
washed with hot distilled water to remove the impurities produces 4 kg = 542$
oil cake
and the product was dried with hot plate in 100°C for 30
- - Less cost of oil 1580$-542$
min to remove the water and methanol content. Finally cake = 1038$
the ester layers (biodiesel) from different non-edible oils Biodiesel 452$/liter Biodiesel 451$/litter
were quantified to find out the maximum yield of production cost Production cost
biodiesel variety. The biodiesel yield using different (Chemicals+ 4062$+452$ (Chemicals+ 1038$+451$
EB + = 4513$ EB + = 1489$
methods was presented in table 1 and 2 respectively. Equipment & Equipment &
Table-1: Yield of Biodiesel using Acid Catalyst. Others) Others)
One litter oil - One litter oil -
produces 850- produces 850-
Source Oil KOH Methan glycerol Ester 900 ml BD 900 ml BD
sampl (g) ol (ml) (ml/liter) layer(ml/ One litter oil 271$/300 One litter oil 271$/300
e (ml) lit) produces 400 ml produces 300 ml
ml glycerol ml glycerol
Jatropha 1000 7.5 200 220 980 Less cost of 4513$-271$ Less cost of 1489$-271$
Pongamia 1000 7.5 200 210 970 glycerol = 4242$ glycerol = 1219$
Madhuca 1000 7.5 200 200 980 Cost of BD 4242$/liter Cost of BD 1219$/ liter
Azadirachta 1000 7.5 200 240 985 Cost of 1806$/liter - -
Petroleum
In Acid method maximum ester was obtained from Diesel
Jatropha oil lowest ester conversion was achieved from The cost optimization of biodiesel from non-edible
Madhuca oil. Similarly maximum glycerol byproduct was oils available in India and Tamilnadu was also examined
obtained from Madhuca oil and lowest glycerol was
121
 to find out the suitability of biodiesel fuel for
commercialization. The comparison of fuel price of
different fuels from edible oils, non-edible oils with
petroleum diesel was presented in table-3. From the table
3 the cost of biodiesel from non-edible oils is lower (Rs
27/liter) than other fuels. Where as cost of biodiesel from
edible oils is very higher (Rs 97/liter) than other fuels
including PD. But the cost of PD is (Rs 40/liter) unstable.
Therefore this study recommends the commercial
biodiesel production from non-edible oil sources such as
Jatropha curcus, Pongamia pinnata, Madhuca indica and
Azhadirachta indica.
4. Conclusion
In this study the high FFA content of non-edible plant
oil sources are efficiently converted in to biodiesel fuel.
Yield of biodiesel from different non-edible oils which is
commonly available in India as well as Tamilnadu were
examined and the results recommend the biodiesel
production from Azadirachta indica oil on the basis of
high yield and quality of biodiesel.On the basis of cost
effectiveness this study recommends BD production from
non-edible oils (Jatropha, Pongamia, Madhuca and
Azhadirachta).The main advantage for biodiesel fuel
production from non-edible oils reduces the use of PD.
Biodiesel production technology needs further study in
the aspects of elimination of biodiesel purification process
by using newly developed catalyst such as heterogeneous
catalyst like MgO and ZnO etc instead of homogeneous
catalyst (H2SO4 & KOH). Because, water washing
method produces large amount of waste water which is
discharged to environment leads to environment damage.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author Mr. M. Mathiyazhagan, gratefully
acknowledge the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, New
Delhi, India and Indian Overseas Bank, Veppur Branch,
Perambalur (DT), Tamilnadu, India for funding to carry
out this work successfully
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