Magdalena Kachel-Jakubowska

Analysis of the physicochemical properties of post-manufacturing waste derived from production of methyl esters from rapeseed oil

Abstract The technology of transesterification of biodiesel obtained from many agricultural products, which are often referred to as renewable resources, yields substantial amounts of by-products. They exhibit various properties that prompt scientific research into potential application thereof. Various spectroscopic methods, e.g. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, are being increasingly used in the research. In this paper, we present the results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectroscopy analyses of technical glycerine, distilled glycerine, and matter organic non glycerol, i.e. by-products of biodiesel production. To facilitate the spectroscopic analysis, a number of parameters were determined for all the materials, e.g. the calorific value, water content, sulphated ash content, methanol content, acidity, as well as the contents of esters, heavy metals, aldehydes, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The results indicate that the analysed products are characterised by a comparable calorific value in the range from 11.35 to 16.05 MJ kg-1 in the case of matter organic non glycerol and technical glycerine. Observation of changes in the position of selected peaks in the range of 3700-650 cm-1 in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method facilitates determination of the level of degradation of the analysed material. Changes in the wavelength ranges can be used for monitoring the formation of secondary oxidation products containing carbonyl groups.

Comparision of Physicochemical Parameters of Rape Seeds Applying the Infrared Spectroscopy Method

Technical progression in sustainable agriculture requires the need for search more and newer analytical methods in order to reduce time of analysis and to minimize costs routine of tests for the highest accuracy of the result. Infrared (IR) and near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides such possibility. The paper presents a method of measuring the basic quality parameters (moisture, content of protein, fat, damage and contamination of raw material) of winter rapeseed for cultivars: Abacus, Bellevue, and Adriana+Catana concoction. Statistically significant differences resulting from various measurement systems between results obtained by means of sieve methods and infrared (IR), were observed. A three-dimensional way of measuring the seed shape used in three dimensional particle size analyzer (AWK 3D) suggests that it is more accurate than the measurement applying two-dimensional method used in the shaker with a set of sieves.

Possibilities of Using Waste after Pressing Oil from Oilseeds for Energy Purposes

Abstract Currently, many countries are establishing goals for substituting fossil fuels with biomass. This global trade in solid biofuels, which is to some extent already taking place, will have a major impact not only on other commodity markets like vegetable oils or animal fodder but also on the global land use change and on environmental impacts. It demonstrates the strong but complex link between biofuels production and the global food market, it unveils policy measures as the main drivers for production and use of biofuels and it analyzes various sustainability indicators and certification schemes for biofuels with respect to minimizing the adverse effects of biofuels. Biomass is seen as a very promising option for fulfilling the environmental goals defined by the European Commission as well as various national governments. We have measured selected physicochemical properties of several the most common oilseeds and the residue materials in the form of cakes, moisture, fat, heat of combustion, the calorific value and ash content. The results showed that the considered plants and waste derived therefrom can be a good energy source. Examples include sunflower oilcake, sesame, pumpkin and rapeseed cake, for which the calorific value amounted to respectively: 28.17; 27.77; 26.42 and 21.69 MJ·kg−1.

Influence of chemical properties of biomass plant agricultural origin on outlays energy incurred during the production of pellets.

In this study, was analysed made the measurements of the content of water, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and chlorine in plant biomass of agricultural origin in the context of the impact of these features on the energy expenditures incurred in its pelleting. For the examined raw materials statistical analysis results showed negative linear trend between energy expenditures and: water content, total sulfur and chlorine. Positive linear trend between energy expenditures and: contents of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. Wherein the coefficients of correlation expenditures energy and: carbon, hydrogen and chlorine are significant p<0.05.