Study of the Utilization of Spent Bleaching Earth as a Raw Material for the Production of Biodiesel Using the In-Situ Transesterification Process

Abstract

Spent bleaching earth (SBE) is the primary by-product generated during crude palm oil (CPO) refining. The majority of the SBE is typically discarded in landfills, despite the fact that it still contains approximately 20-40 percent crude oil. The oil present in SBE can be converted into biodiesel using an in-situ transesterification procedure.  In the in-situ esterification-transesterification process, the extraction of oil and the reactions of esterification and transesterification take place concurrently on the surface of the SBE in the reactor. The objective of the research was to investigate the impact of reaction temperature and time, NaOH concentration, methanol and hexane to SBE ratio on the generation of biodiesel from SBE through in-situ transesterification. The research findings indicated that the in-situ transesterification process at 65°C for 120 minutes, using a methanol/SBE ratio of 9.0 (v/w) and a NaOH concentration of four percent (w/w), resulted in the greatest biodiesel production of 85.6 percent. The biodiesel consisted of 97.47 percent methyl ester. The findings also indicated that SBE might be utilized as a resource for the manufacturing of biodiesel. By employing SBE as a feedstock for biodiesel, it not only minimizes waste but also enhances biodiesel production without compromising the availability of oil for food consumption.

Keywords: biodiesel, crude palm oil, in-situ, spent bleaching earth, transesterification

DOI: 10.7176/JETP/14-1-02

Publication date: January 31^st 2024