Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

Iron-based ionic liquid as a highly effective catalyst for biodiesel production from used vegetable oils

International Conference and Expo on Oil and Gas

November 16-18, 2015 Dubai, UAE

Seham Ali Shaban

Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Egypt

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Pet Environ Engineering

Abstract:

As conventional energy sources deplete, the need for developing alternate energy resources becomes more imperative and environment friendly. Used vegetable oils are attracting increased interest in this purpose. The methanolysis of used vegetable oil to produce a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME, i.e., biodiesel fuel) was catalyzed by commercial ionic liquid. The imidazolium chloride ionic liquid has been selected for the synthesis of biodiesel. The imidazolium tetrachloroferrate [bmim] [FeCl4] ionic liquid was prepared by direct combination between imidazolium cation and FeCl3. The imidazolium chloride and imidazolium tetrachloroferrate ionic liquid were characterized by using FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, DSC, TG and UV. The factors affecting the transesterification process include: Reaction time, reaction temperature, weight of ionic liquid catalyst, Methanol:Oil molar ratio and reusability of the ionic liquid catalyst were studied. The yield was reached to 99 wt% under the optimum conditions of (1:8.33 catalyst to used vegetable oil weight ratio, 12:1 Methanol:Oil molar ratio, reaction temperature of 55o C and reaction time of 8 hours). Under these optimum conditions, the produced biodiesel is nearly the same as the commercial biodiesel with 7.8 Cp dynamic viscosity, 0.8925 g/cc density, 120o C flash point, -6o C pour point and 125 iodine value. Operational simplicity, reusability of the used catalyst for 7 times at least, high yields and no saponifications are the key features of this methodology.

Biography :

Email: sehamshaban@yahoo.com