Enhanced biodiesel production via esterification of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) using rice husk ash (NiSO4)/SiO2 catalyst

• Main Authors: Nurul Hajar, Embong, Noor, Hindryawati, Bhuyar, Prakash, Govindan, Natanamurugaraj, Mohd Hasbi, Ab. Rahim, Gaanty Pragas, Maniam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2021
• Subjects: QR Microbiology
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/34039/7/Enhanced%20biodiesel%20production%20via%20esterifcation.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/34039/; https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-021-01922-4; https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-021-01922-4
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Pahang

Waste or low-cost feedstock utilization for preparing renewable energy is a noble effort towards a greener environment. In this work, palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), which is usually transacted at a concession rate versus crude palm oil, is esterified to methyl esters. Conventional catalysts are not feasible in the process since PFAD consists of a significant amount of free fatty acids. As such, nickel sulfate supported on waste rice husk ash is utilized to catalyse the reaction under moderate reaction conditions of 15 wt.% catalyst, 5:1 methanol: PFAD (molar ratio) for 7 h, that produces 93% of methyl esters. The prepared catalyst was characterized for thermal stability (TGA), acid strength, surface analysis and compositional analysis via XPS, XRD and FTIR. The esterification of PFAD with NiSO4/SiO2 under the optimized reaction conditions of 15 wt.% catalyst, 5:1 methanol to PFAD molar ratio and 7 h reaction time gave the highest methyl esters conversion of 93%. The utilization of low-cost feedstock and waste utilization in catalyst preparation readily implies merits in term of environmental gains and lower cost biodiesel preparation.