Synthesis and use of a catalyst in the production of biodiesel from Pongamia pinnata seed oil with dimethyl carbonate

The preparation of sodium methoxide-treated algae catalysts and their activity in the transesterification of Pongamia pinnata seed oil by dimethyl carbonate were investigated. We also investigated the effect of the sodium methoxide-treated algae catalyst on the biodiesel yield. The development of sodium methoxide-treated algae catalysts can overcome most problems associated with dissolution in dimethyl carbonate. The products were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy to identify the fatty acid methyl esters in the biodiesel produced. The molar ratio of Pongamia pinnata seed oil to dimethyl carbonate in transesterification in the presence of the sodium methoxide-treated algae catalyst was observed to play a substantial role in this study, wherein the Pongamia pinnata seed oil conversion increased with increasing catalyst concentration. The highest percent conversion rate was 97%. With intense research focus and development, an ideal catalyst can indeed be developed for optimal biodiesel production that is both economically feasible and environmentally benign.     

Transcriptional responses of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) to thermal, bisphenol A, and copper stresses in the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum

The designation of biodiesel as an environmental-friendly alternative to diesel oil has improved its commercialization and use. However, most biodiesel environmental safety studies refer to air pollution and so far there have been very few literature data about its impacts upon other biotic systems, e.g. water, and exposed organisms. Spill simulations in water were carried out with neat diesel and biodiesel and their blends aiming at assessing their genotoxic potentials should there be contaminations of water systems. The water soluble fractions (WSF) from the spill simulations were submitted to solid phase extraction with C-18 cartridge and the extracts obtained were evaluated carrying out genotoxic and mutagenic bioassays [the Salmonella assay and the in vitro MicroFlow® kit (Litron) assay]. Mutagenic and genotoxic effects were observed, respectively, in the Salmonella/microsome preincubation assay and the in vitro MN test carried out with the biodiesel WSF. This interesting result may be related to the presence of pollutants in biodiesel derived from the raw material source used in its production chain. The data showed that care while using biodiesel should be taken to avoid harmful effects on living organisms in cases of water pollution.     

Production of bio-oil from algal biomass and its upgradation to biodiesel using CaO-based heterogeneous catalysts

The present article deals with the production of bio-oil from algal biomass as well as the preparation and characterization of noble CaO-based heterogeneous catalyst for upgradation of bio-oil to biodiesel. The bio-oil has been extracted from algal biomass using hexane as solvent in soxhlet apparatus and upgraded to biodiesel by transesterification using noble CaO-based heterogeneous catalysts. Catalyst with TiO₂:CaO molar ratio of 0.25 and calcination temperature of 700°C has been found to be most suitable among all the catalysts developed. Characterization of the catalysts has been done by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The input--output model has been developed to correlate experimental and predicted value of biodiesel yield. Optimization of process parameters has been done using response surface methodology. Various properties and elemental composition of algal bio-oil and biodiesel have been determined and compared with biodiesel.     

Microalgae‐based biodiesel production in open raceway ponds using coal thermal flue gas: A case of West Bengal,India

India is one of the most populous countries and is the third largest greenhouse gas–emitting nation. Energy security is a serious issue for India as it relies heavily on fossil fuel imports. Biodiesel production using microalgae as feedstock can address both of these issues. In this study, the technical feasibility of microalgae‐based biodiesel production is carried out for a coal thermal power plant (i.e., Budge Budge Thermal Station) in the state of West Bengal, India, using a generic methodology. An oleaginous microalgae species that is tolerant toward flue gas was identified (i.e., Nannochloropsis sp). A 75‐acre open raceway microalgae production plant was designed keeping the costs, energy demand, and CO₂ emissions low. The open raceway pond can use 38 tons of CO₂, produce 19 tons of algal biomass, and treat 9320 m³ of wastewater per acre annually.     

新型吸收剂的制备及其对甲苯废气的吸收性能研究

针对工业排放的大量有机废气,制备了一种新型吸收剂.首次以水和生物柴油为原料,经乳化形成稳定的乳液,可提高生物柴油的吸收性能.考察了油水比、乳化剂HLB值、乳化剂添加量、乳化时间和乳化温度对乳液稳定性的影响.将乳液作为甲苯废气的吸收剂,通过实验室模拟废气,考察了其对甲苯废气的去除率.结果表明,在油水比(质量比)为7:3,乳化剂HLB(亲水亲油平衡值)值为10,乳化剂质量分数为5%,乳化时间为0.5 h,乳化温度为室温时,乳液的稳定性最好,且对甲苯废气的去除率可达到90.3%.     

废食用油生物柴油的制备及其掺烧时的动力与排放特性

为了查明生物柴油对环境的影响以及废食用油制备的生物柴油对发动机性能和排放特性的影响,研究了生物柴油环境生命周期评价及其对环境的影响以及废食用油生物柴油的生产工艺流程,即甲醇与废食用油在催化剂作用下发生酯交换反应生产出生物柴油.所制备的生物柴油和柴油,按20%和50%掺混后在2台车用增压直喷式柴油机上进行了台架动力和排放特性的测试.试验结果表明,与柴油相比,掺混燃料的动力性和油耗率分别约有3%的下降和8%的上升,烟度、HC、CO和PM排放降低幅度最大分别达65%、11%、33%和13%,而NO_x排放有不同程度的上升.本研究表明,发动机燃用低比例的生物柴油掺混燃料,在发动机不作任何改动和调整时,可以在经济性、动力性和排放等方面取得令人满意的综合结果.     

不同燃料柴油机多环芳烃排放特征的试验研究

在一台直喷式柴油机上,采用玻璃纤维滤纸及XAD-2吸附管采集、超声和索氏提取、气质联用分析等技术,测量了燃用柴油、生物柴油及其调合油B50排气中的多环芳烃类污染物（PAHs）.研究表明,柴油机颗粒相PAHs排放随着负荷的增大呈现降低的趋势,气相PAHs排放随着负荷呈现先降低后升高的趋势.与柴油相比,生物柴油的颗粒相和气...     

桐油-地沟油生物柴油混合燃料性能改善研究

为了改善生物柴油的品质,文章将桐油生物柴油和地沟油生物柴油按体积比1:1混合,评价其对生物柴油品质的影响;研究了抗氧化剂TBHQ(特丁基对苯二酚)、BHT(二叔丁基对甲酚)和BHA(丁基羟基茴香醚)对混合生物柴油氧化安定性及其它性能的影响,并考察了混合生物柴油加速氧化后过氧化值和粘度的变化。结果表明:桐油生物柴油和地沟生物柴油混合可以调和两者之间的性能,降低桐油生物柴油的粘度,提高地沟油生物柴油的低温流动性能;TBHQ抗氧化效果明显优于BHT和BHA,TBHQ能够延长混合生物柴油的氧化诱导时间且对生物柴油其他性能影响较小,当桐油生物柴油与地沟油生物柴油以1:1混合,TBHQ添加量为1%时其各项指标基本符合生物柴油国家标准;生物柴油加速氧化后粘度和过氧化值增加,TBHQ的加入减轻了氧化前后粘度的变化。     

酶法合成生物柴油的研究进展

生物柴油是一种清洁可再生的生物能源,是石油燃料的理想替代物。酶法合成生物柴油具有提取简单、反应条件温和、醇用量小、甘油易回收和无废物产生等优点。综述了脂肪酶与固定化脂肪酶、全细胞生物催化剂在生物柴油生产中应用的新进展,并对我国生物柴油产业的发展提出了建议。     

生物柴油的环境效益与社会经济效益

通过对生物柴油的环境效益和社会经济效益进行分析，得出使用生物柴油可以在降低CO2排放，降低发动机空气污染物的排放，减少对水体和土壤的污染，增加国土绿化面积方面，发挥其良好的环境效益，同时发展我国的生物柴油产业有着巨大的社会经济效益；缓解能源压力，增强国家石油安全；调整农业结构，刺激油料林业发展；转化餐饮废油，保障人民身体健康；增加农民收入，开辟乡镇企业财源；促进西部开发，增加更多就业机会。