Valorization of energy crop shells as potential green adsorbents for free fatty acid removal from oils for biodiesel pro
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Valorization of energy crop shells as potential green adsorbents for free fatty acid removal from oils for biodiesel production L. Díaz 1
&
L. Mertes 2 & A. Brito 1 & K. E. Rodríguez 1
Received: 8 July 2020 / Revised: 19 September 2020 / Accepted: 16 October 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Due to the success of the use of energy crop oils in the production of biodiesel, the heavy cultivation of these plants in many countries is being promoted. However, it may lead to the problem with its associated waste shells, which contain low nutrient; consequently, they are not suitable for use as an agricultural fertilizer, and they are abundant in hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin resulting in difficult to digest or degrade. Thus, a possible solution for this waste is to convert it into carbon-based adsorbents. Specifically, activated carbon is a product with a high added value, widely used material due to its adsorbent properties. These adsorbents could be used for reducing the free fatty acids content presents in oils intended for the biodiesel production. The presence of free fatty acids in the oils is undesirable for biodiesel production due to a performance reduction in the transesterification reaction. The aim of this work is to use biomass waste such as Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata shells for the preparation of carbon-based materials (activated carbons, Ca(OH)2 supported on activated carbons and charcoals) and to study the possibility of using them as adsorbents for reducing the free fatty acids content of Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata oils. Keywords Activated carbon . Charcoal . Shell . Energy crops . Free fatty acid . Adsorption process
1 Introduction Fossil fuels are considered a nonrenewable and unsustainable source of energy due to continuous depletion and contamination of the environment. Reducing the use of fossil fuels would considerably reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants emitted into the atmosphere. Renewable and carbon–neutral fuel is the way to achieve economic sustainability and environmental protection [1, 2]. In recent years, biodiesel becomes one of the most popular renewable energy resources, mainly for the transportation sector. Development of low-cost, sustainable, and environmentally friendly biodiesel is a key focus in the energy industry
* L. Díaz [email protected] 1
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez s/n, La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain
2
Department of Food Technology, Hochschule Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Leipziger Straße 123, 36037 Fulda, Germany
worldwide [3]. For commercial use, biodiesel should comply with the international quality standards. A few specifications have been set, but the ASTM D 6751 and EN 14214 standards are the most commonly used [4, 5]. Biodiesel can be chemically defined as a fuel composed of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) derived from transesterification of triglycerides with methan
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