Catalyst -Free Biodiesel Production from Industrial Rosin Residue (Dark-Grade Rosin) Using Supercritical Methanol

• Published in: Waste and biomass valorization 2018-07, Vol.9 (7), p.1191-1198
• Main Authors: Wang, Linlin, Huang, Chengrong, Chen, Jianyun, Wei, Xiaojie, Chen, Xiaopeng, Liang, Jiezhen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batch reactors; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Carbon dioxide; Catalysis; Catalysts; Diesel; Engineering; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Industrial Pollution Prevention; Mass ratios; Methanol; Original Paper; Petroleum; Physicochemical properties; Pressure; Reaction time; Renewable and Green Energy; Rosin; Stainless steel; Supercritical fluids; Temperature; Turpentine; Waste Management/Waste Technology
• ISSN: 1877-2641; 1877-265X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12649-017-9848-6

A novel approach for a catalyst-free biodiesel production process from industrial dark-grade rosin (black rosin, BR) using supercritical methanol was investigated. Thirty experiments of different reaction conditions were designed and conducted in a stainless steel batch reactor, in which, supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO 2 ) is used as a green medium. Yield of BRB was investigated as a function of temperature, pressure, time, the mass ratios of BR/heavy turpentine and BR/methanol to determine the appropriate reaction conditions. The highest yield of BRB was 93.05 wt%, which was obtained at a temperature of 613 K, a reaction pressure of 11–12 MPa, a reaction time of 3 h. The mass ratio of BR/methanol is optimal at 1:0.8 with a 1:1.2 mass ratio of BR/heavy turpentine. The physicochemical properties of BR-based biodiesel (BD100) and blended black rosin biodiesel (BRB) with petroleum diesel were tested. The results show that BRB can be compounded well and compounding can effectively improve the oil performance. BRB B5 conforms to standard quality requirements as a substitute for petroleum diesel products.