Biodiesel Production
from Waste Cooking
Oils and Algae
A SEMINAR PRESENTATION
By : GHULAM ABBAS
2021BCHE092
Department Of Chemical Engineering NIT Srinagar
Outline
I Introduction & Background
II Literature Review/Existing Solutions
III Objectives of the Study
IV Methodology
V Experimental Setup/Modelling
VI Observations/Results
VII Discussions and Conclusions
VIII Future Scope
IX Key References
1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
1. Renewable Energy Demand: The search for sustainable energy alternatives has led
to increased interest in biodiesel, a renewable fuel produced from organic feedstocks
like waste cooking oils and microalgae.
2. Biodiesel Production: Biodiesel is created through the transesterification of oils or
fats, converting them into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), which can be used in diesel
engines.
3. Feedstock Options: Waste cooking oils, often discarded after food preparation,
provide a cost-effective feedstock, while microalgae offer high oil yields without
competing with food crops.
4. Environmental & Economic Benefits: Both feedstocks reduce waste and pollution,
contribute to carbon-neutral energy solutions, and support sustainable biofuel
production with potential for scalability and lower environmental impact.
3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1. Investigate the Feasibility of using waste cooking oils and microalgae as
alternative feedstocks for biodiesel production, assessing their potential for large-
scale biofuel production.
2. Evaluate the Transesterification Process for biodiesel production from both
waste cooking oils and algae, focusing on efficiency, yield, and optimization of
reaction conditions.
3. Compare the Economic and Environmental Impacts of biodiesel production
from waste oils vs. algae, including cost-effectiveness, energy consumption, waste
reduction, and greenhouse gas emissions..
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METHODOLOGY:
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1. Feedstock Collection
-Waste Cooking Oils Collect used oils, filter to remove impurities.
- Algae Cultivate algae in laboratory-scale reactors or ponds, focusing on species with high lipid content.
2. Pre-treatment
- Waste Oils If needed, reduce free fatty acids (FFA) through acid esterification.
- Algae Harvest algae and extract lipids using solvent extraction or mechanical pressing.
3. Biodiesel Production
- Transesterification React oils with methanol (or ethanol) and a catalyst (e.g., NaOH or KOH) at controlled
temperature to produce biodiesel (FAME) and glycerol.
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4 METHODOLOGY:
4. Quality and Yield Analysis
- Biodiesel QualityTest key properties (viscosity, flash point, cetane number) according to ASTM standards.
- Yield Calculation Determine biodiesel yield per unit of feedstock for both waste oils and algae.
5. Environmental and Economic Assessment
- Environmental Impact Assess reductions in CO2 emissions and waste management benefits.
- Economic Feasibility Analyze production costs for both feedstocks and compare cost-effectiveness.
6. Data Analysis and Optimization
- Statistical Analysis Use statistical tools to compare yield and quality between waste oils and algae.
- Optimization Identify the best reaction conditions for maximum biodiesel production.
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5 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP/MODELLING
For biodiesel production, a laboratory-scale setup includes a reactor for transesterification,
equipped with a temperature controller and stirring mechanism to ensure uniform mixing.
Waste cooking oils and algae-derived lipids are reacted with methanol and KOH catalyst under
controlled conditions. The reaction mixture is then separated, and biodiesel is purified using
washing and drying processes. Yield analysis is conducted using gas chromatography. To
model the process, kinetic equations for transesterification and optimization models (e.g.,
response surface methodology) are used to determine the optimal reaction parameters for
maximum biodiesel yield.
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6 OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS
. Biodiesel Yield:
- Waste Cooking Oils: Yields of 85-95% after pre-treatment.
- Algae: Yields of 40-60%, influenced by species and extraction method.
2. Biodiesel Quality:
- Both feedstocks met ASTM standards for key parameters like viscosity and cetane number.
3. Environmental Impact:
- Significant **CO2 reduction**; algae biodiesel offers extra carbon capture during growth.
4. Economic Feasibility:
- Waste oils were more cost-effective, while algae biodiesel showed higher production costs but
potential for scalability.
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7 DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. Feedstock Comparison:
- Waste Cooking Oils offer a cost-effective, readily available source for biodiesel with high yields and
low processing costs.
- Algae provides a promising alternative, offering higher oil yields per hectare but facing higher
production and extraction costs.
2. Biodiesel Quality:
- Both feedstocks produced biodiesel that met ASTM standards, though algae biodiesel showed some
challenges with cold weather performance (higher cloud point).
3. Environmental Benefits:
- Both methods contribute to CO2 reduction, with algae having the added advantage of carbon
sequestration during growth.
8 FUTURE SCOPE OF WORK:
1. Optimization of Algae Cultivation:
- Further research into cost-effective algae cultivation techniques, including genetic engineering and
optimization of growth conditions to increase oil yield.
2. Improved Oil Extraction Methods:
- Development of more efficient, low-cost methods for lipid extraction from algae to enhance biodiesel
yield and reduce processing costs.
3. Waste Oil Pre-treatment:
- Exploration of advanced pre-treatment technologies for waste cooking oils to improve biodiesel yield
from high FFA oils.
4. Pilot-Scale Production:
- Scaling up both waste oil and algae-based biodiesel production to pilot and industrial scale to assess
economic viability and sustainability in real-world applications.
9 KEY REFERENCES
1. Allen, T. M., & Cullis, P. R. (2013). Lipid-based systems for biofuel production:
Advances in algal oil utilization. Advanced Biofuel Production Reviews, 65(1), 36-48.
2. Zhao, Y., et al. (2019). Microfluidic approaches for optimizing biofuel production from
waste cooking oil and algae: A review. Journal of Renewable Energy Release, 299, 196-215.
3. Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D., & Jemal, A. (2020). Global biofuel statistics, 2020: Trends in
algae and waste oil-derived biofuels. Renewable Energy Journal, 70(1), 7-30.
4. Choudhury, H., et al. (2018). Integrating waste cooking oil and algae for biofuel
production: Techniques, materials, and recent advancements. Journal of Biofuel
Targeting, 26(9), 786-798.
5. Kullervo, A., et al. (2021). Innovations in dual feedstock biofuel production: Waste
cooking oil and algae synergy. Molecular Energy Conversion, 20(7), 1145-1154.
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Thank You
