Production of biodiesel from palm oil refinery pilot plant waste using Ni/CaO (ES) catalyst

Biomass has demonstrated to be an appropriate substitute for petroleum-based fuel since this energy can solve petroleum-based fuel-related problems. This research was carried out to investigate the suitability of palm oil refinery pilot plant waste to be considered as raw material for producing biodiesel catalytically using 15 wt% Ni/CaO (ES; eggshell). The catalyst was characterized using Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and it was found that nitrate precursor and other impurities were fully decomposed at 800 r. Besides that, this research focused on the Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) characterizations using Gas Chromatography (GC), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) as well as physical properties (density, flash point, volatility and kinematic viscosity) of FAMEs were measured according to ASTM D6751. It was revealed that higher catalyst loading of 8:1000 (ratio of catalyst, g to palm oil refinery pilot plant waste, ml) contributes to higher esters content which are 90.31%. Carbonyl and methoxy group presence in the FAMEs from IR spectra result (1741.10 cm(-1) and 1170.33 cm(-1)) proved that the FAMEs were produced. Additionally, results obtained from physical properties ratify that the FAMEs produced have aligned with the ASTM standard. The density, flash point, kinematic viscosity and volatility were found to be 0.877 g/cm(3) at 15 degrees C, 130 degrees C, 2.51 mm(2)/s at 40 degrees C and 1.02 kPa respectively. From this work, the pilot plant dry fractionation waste consists of mainly olein and stearin has been successfully converted into biodiesel using waste eggshells based catalyst. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.