This investigation explores single-step biodiesel synthesis using palm oil mill effluent (POME) as a feedstock. Normally considered a waste product from the extraction process of palm oil, POME treatment is difficult and can cause significant environmental pollution if discharged directly into watercourses. Fatty acids (FAs) present in POME were extracted and subsequently esterified in situ to FA methyl esters (FAME) suitable for use as biodiesel. The process of simultaneous extraction and esterification was performed under microwave irradiation in a sealed vessel, which has been shown to reduce both time of reaction and energy use considerably in other reactions. The simultaneous extraction and esterification result in an 89% yield of biodiesel from the available FAs in the POME solids. The facile separation of biodiesel products from the reaction mixture augments the process and here presented is a potential route to making economic use of this difficult feedstock.

The statement of novelty

Here presented is a method optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) to leverage the benefits of microwave processing upon the extraction and synthesis of biodiesel with the purpose of producing biodiesel from palm oil mill effluent (POME). The advantages of the microwave processing technique used in this investigation include the rapid and simultaneous extraction and esterification of fatty acids (FA) from the POME solids, followed by the facile separation of the biodiesel fraction. The RSM investigation undertaken was used to maximize the yield of biodiesel whilst minimizing the amount of catalyst and methanol required for the reaction. This unique application of microwave processing for both the high pressure and temperature extraction and subsequent in situ acid catalysed esterification in a single-vessel acts as pilot study to a method that could make use of this most difficult of biodiesel feedstocks.

这项研究探索了使用棕榈油厂出水（POME）作为原料的单步生物柴油合成方法。通常，POME处理被认为是棕榈油提取过程中产生的废物，如果将其直接排放到河道中，将很困难，并且可能造成严重的环境污染。提取存在于POME中的脂肪酸（FAs），然后就地酯化为适合用作生物柴油的FA甲酯（FAME）。同时萃取和酯化的过程是在密封容器中在微波辐射下进行的，这已显示出可显着减少反应时间和其他反应中的能量消耗。同时萃取和酯化可从POME固体中的可用FA中获得89％的生物柴油收率。

新奇声明

本文介绍了一种通过响应表面方法（RSM）优化的方法，以利用微波处理在生物柴油的提取和合成中的优势，目的是从棕榈油厂废液（POME）中生产生物柴油。在这项研究中使用的微波处理技术的优势包括从POME固体中快速同时提取和酯化脂肪酸（FA），然后轻松分离生物柴油馏分。进行的RSM研究用于最大程度地提高生物柴油的产量，同时将反应所需的催化剂和甲醇的量降至最低。