Enhancement of Bioduel Poduction from Tropical Biodiversity Sources

GC003D-17SBS: Enhancement of Bioduel Poduction from Tropical Biodiversity Sources

Abstract

The problem of energy crisis coupled with environmental issues and escalating petroleum prices have led scientist to search for alternative energy sources. Biofuel is the most potential candidate to solve the energy and environmental problems. Meanwhile, the agriculture sector has the largest share of biofuel feedstock. Malaysia is the main producer of palm oil, which is the main feedstock for biofuel. Most palm trees grow in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Palm occurs from approximately 44° northern latitude to 44° southern latitude. The same can be found in some Latin America countries such as Colombia. However, the conventional biofuel production method consumes high energy, easily to contaminate and difficult to separate the glycerol from the products. An alternative enzymatic transesterification method is more efficient; less contaminates less energy intensive and has no toxic. Lipase enzyme will be used to catalyse the reaction to break the triglycerides into fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and glycerol (by product). Thus, the main objective of this research is to explore a biofuel from tropical biodiversity via enzymatic reaction and compare with the feedstock from Latin America. The methodology will start with extraction of oil from suitable feedstock by using soxhlet method. After that, experiment of biofuel conversion via enzymatic reaction will be carried out and physicochemical properties of biofuel will be analyzed. On top of that, the comparison of the physiochemical of produced biofuel will be carried out in order to improve the quality of biofuel. The expected output of this project is high quality biofuel from tropical biodiversity. This study is in line with Malaysia national energy policy and Latin America scenario which is in the tropical region.

Objectives

1. To compare biofuel production from tropical biodiversity available in Malaysia and Latin America.

2. To improve the production and characteristic of palm oil based biofuel via enzymatic reaction.

3. To assess the environmental impact of palm oil based biofuel produced via enzymatic reaction.

Methodology

Stage 1: Raw material and feedstock preparation

The related research materials and potential feedstock from tropical biodiversity such as pal, oil calophyllum inophyllum and ceiba pentandra will be prepared and laboratory equipment will be developed. The preparations include the selection of proper non-edible feedstock from the tropical biodiversity and contain high oil yield.

Stage 2: Oil extraction and characteristics analysis

The selected high oil yield feedstock will be extracted via soxhlet extraction method with the solvent system of methyl ether and methylene chloride in n-hexane. The solvent was removed under vacuum at 400 mbar in a rotary evaporator and the temperature was maintained at 55^oC. After that, the physiochemical properties of extracted crude oil from selected feedstock will be analyzed.

Stage 3: Experimental study on biofuel production via enzymatic reaction and properties

Experimental investigations of non-edible oil based biofuel production via enzymatic transesterification process will be conducted. The lipase enzyme will be immobilized into three different matrix or medium to maintain its stability. The biofuel production process will be carried out via pretreatment process (degumming), transesterification process (enzymatic reaction) and post-treatment process (purification). After that, the produced biofuel properties such as calorific value, kinematic viscosity, density, cloud point, pour point, flash point and etc. are analyzed in accordance with the ASTM method.

Stage 4: Physiochemical properties comparison and quality improvement

Physiochemical properties of produced biofuel will be compared with the feedstock from Latin America. The relationship among calorific value and biofuel properties were studied and a comparison analysis for exploited biofuel conducted through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Followed by, an optimization study on biofuel production process to enhance quality and obtain the maximum oil yield.

Stage 5: Environmental impact assessment

The naturally aspirated single-cylinder CI engine will be used to conduct the experiment in the heat Engine Laboratory of the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Malaya. The engine is directly coupled with an eddy current dynamometer. The experiment will be conducted at varying speeds from 1200 rpm to 2400 rpm with an interval of 300 rpm at full throttle conditions. The SAE J1349 standard engine testing condition is followed during experiment. In this experiment, Dynomax-2000 software is uses to measure the performance of the engine. A portable BOSCH exhaust gas analyzer is uses to analyze the exhaust gas emission such as HC (ppm vol.), CO (%vol.), and CO2 (%vol.).

Stage 6: Life cycle cost analysis

The life cycle analysis for biofuel production starts from the feedstock seed acquisition and ends with biodiesel consumption. This includes studying the extraction of raw materials, energy consumption, emission and costing analysis during the life cycle process. This cycle can be divided into three specific phases, which are grouped around agricultural, production and consumption processes. This study focuses on the costs associated with the biofuel production phase with current technology production scheme.

The economic benefit of the plant is evaluated by life cycle cost analysis. The life cycle cost model for biofuel production from tropical plant is developed and grouped into six categories as follows:

LCC= Capital Cost + Operating Cost + Maintenance Cost + Feedstock Cost – Salvage Value -By product credit

Present value calculations are widely used in business and economics to compare cash flows at different times with this approach used here.

Expected Output

1 ISI, 1 Networking & Linkages and 1 PhD