Abstract

Nelson R. Villarante¹, Chelsea H. Ibarrientos¹ and Derick Erl P. Sumalapao²

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/360305

This research investigation assessed the potential of choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in removing impurities from lumbang (Aleurites moluccana)-derived biodiesel. Lumbang oil (56% wt.) which contained about 6.5% free fatty acids was converted into biodiesel through direct acid-base catalyzed reaction. Three different DESs were prepared in a 1:2 (choline chloride:glycerol, ChCl:Gly), 1:2 (choline chloride:ethylene glycol, ChCl:Eg), and 1:2:2 (choline chloride:glycerol:ethylene glycol, ChCl:Gly:Eg) molar ratios. The crude biodiesel was purified with DESs in a 1:1 and 2:1 DES-biodiesel molar ratios. The results of the investigation showed variations in the extraction efficiencies of the three DESs. Binary DESs (DES1 and DES2) successfully fulfilled the standard limits for biodiesel (ASTM D6751; EN 14214) with ChCl:Eg DES (1:2) in a 1:1 DES:biodiesel molar ratio exhibiting maximum removal. Physicochemical characterization of the purified biodiesel showed a decrement in impurities with maximum removal efficiencies of 98.0% (methanol), 89.0% (total glycerides ), and 99.9% (unreacted triglycerides). The decrease in glyceride impurities was reflected in the decrease of kinematic viscosity and enhancement of fatty acid methyl ester. These results demonstrated the effectivity of choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents in improving the economic viability of lumbang biodiesel as green alternative fuel.

Candlenut; Deep Eutectic Solvents; Direct Acid-Base Catalysis; Free Fatty Acids; Fatty Acid Methyl Ester; Lumbang Biodiesel; Spectroscopic Analysis

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