ENZYMATIC TRANSESTERIFICATION OF HUNGARIAN RAPSEED AND SUNFLOWER OILS
Sustainable process-product development & green chemistry
Sustainable & Clean Technologies-II: Energy Production (T1-5P)
Keywords: biodiesel, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, enzymatic catalysis
Application of transportation fuels containing biomass-derived components has emerged into focus in the last years. The main reason of this tendency is the energy policy of the European Union, declared in Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Council and Parliament. A major recommendation of this Directive is that member states are asked to ensure that a minimum proportion of biofuels and other renewable fuels are blended into transportation fuels. This proportion is proposed to be 2%, calculated on the basis of energy content of all gasoline and diesel fuel for transport purposes placed on their markets by 31 December 2005. The proportion of biofuels shall be increased to 5.75% by 2010.
This target can be achieved with the application of biodiesel, which is produced from triglycerides. Quite a number of feedstocks are available for the production of biodiesel. Out of them a very important one is the rapeseed oil obtained from rape, which can be cultivated with high yield in the western part of Europe. Another important raw material is the sunflower, which can be efficiently cultivated in the climate and geographical conditions of the Central European Region. The two vegetable oils are reasonable for Hungary as feedstocks for biodiesel production.
During the research work, Hungarian vegetable oils produced by pressing were refined under the same conditions. Biodiesels were produced by batch technology of enzymatic catalysis (Novozym 435) from the refined oils using identical process condition. Quality properties of biodiesels were determined by standard test methods according to EN 14214:2004.
Monoester content of the biodiesels produced with the above described method was above 98,5%, the other properties satisfied the requirements of the EN 14214 standard. The concentration of fatty acids compounds with a carbon number of <18 was in the range of 2-8%, while those of >20 varied between 0,5-2%. The ratio of C18:1/C18:2 was in the range 0,3-92. The most favorable results, except for CFPP, of the different analytical tests were observed in case of the biodiesel of highest oleic acid methyl ester content, which was produced from the sunflower oil, obtained from an improved type of sunflower species.
See the full pdf manuscript of the abstract.
Presented Monday 17, 13:30 to 15:00, in session Sustainable & Clean technologies - II: Energy Production (T1-5P).
