Pandian Sivakumar

Production of biodiesel from mixed waste vegetable oil using an aluminium hydrogen sulphate as a heterogeneous acid catalyst.

Al(HSO(4))(3) heterogeneous acid catalyst was prepared by the sulfonation of anhydrous AlCl(3). This catalyst was employed to catalyze transesterification reaction to synthesis methyl ester when a mixed waste vegetable oil was used as feedstock. The physical and chemical properties of aluminum hydrogen sulphate catalyst were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements, energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis and titration method. The maximum conversion of triglyceride was achieved as 81 wt.% with 50 min reaction time at 220°C, 16:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil and 0.5 wt.% of catalyst. The high catalytic activity and stability of this catalyst was related to its high acid site density (-OH, Brönsted acid sites), hydrophobicity that prevented the hydration of -OH group, hydrophilic functional groups (-SO(3)H) that gave improved accessibility of methanol to the triglyceride. The fuel properties of methyl ester were analyzed. The fuel properties were found to be observed within the limits of ASTM D6751.

An Eco-Friendly Catalyst Derived From Waste Shell Of Scylla Tranquebarica For Biodiesel Production

The present investigation involves the production of environmental-friendly heterogeneous catalyst from waste Scylla tranquebarica crab shell and optimization of process parameter for biodiesel production from sunflower oil. A complete characterization of the catalyst including catalytic transesterification reaction was studied using gas chromatogram (GC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). An optimum conversion of 94.2% was achieved at 95°C; methanol--oil molar ratio 12:1; 8 wt % catalyst in 75 min. It was found that the catalytic activity has the ability to compete with the other conventional heterogeneous catalysts. This study includes optimal conditions for the removal of the leached catalyst in biodiesel to enhance product purity. This reaction follows a first-order reaction kinetics. The rate constant and activation energy were determined. Fuel properties of biodiesel produced were determined and compared with ASTM standards.

Studies on a Customized Carbon Catalyst in Biodiesel Production from Waste Sunflower Oil

In this study, transesterification of waste sunflower oil with high free fatty acid was studied in a combined heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic system. Production of hetero-carbon catalyst and their characteristics were done. The effects of the heterogeneous carbon on the homogeneous acid and base catalyzed transesterification reaction were analyzed. Parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time, and excess methanol, affecting the reaction were optimized to obtain a high yield of biodiesel. The results clearly showed that the introduction of customized carbon reduced both acid and base catalyst consumption. It was observed that carbon alone is not responsible for catalyzing the transesterification reaction but the addition of carbon reduces the homogeneous catalyst consumption. It was found that the catalytic activity of carbon with acid catalyst was found to have maximum performance. The highest conversion of waste sunflower oil was found to be 82% with acid catalyst at the following optimized process conditions: Combination of 1.5 wt% H2SO4, 5 wt% carbon, 90 minutes reaction time at 65°C, and 100% excess methanol.

Engineering properties of concrete with partial utilization of used foundry sand

Solid wastes generated from manufacturing industries are increasing at an alarming rate and it is consistently increasing. One such industrial solid waste is Used Foundry Sand (UFS). On the other hand, fine aggregates involved in the concrete are generally river sand, which is scarce, high cost and excavation of the river sand that promote environmental degradation. So, there is an urge to find some alternative solution to dispose UFS and to limit the use of river sand. In this research work, river sand was partially replaced by UFS. The percentage replacements were 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 wt% respectively. Experimental investigations were carried out to evaluate the mechanical, durability and micro-structural properties of M20 concrete at the age of 7, 28 and 91 day. XRD (X-ray Diffraction), EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray) and optical-microscopic imaging analysis were performed to identify the presence of various compounds and micro cracks in the concrete with UFS. Comparative studies on control mix against trial mix were carried out. It was found that compression strength, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity were approximately constant up to 20 wt% UFS and decreased with further addition. Whereas, split tensile strength was increased after 20 wt% addition but it affects the other properties of concrete. The durability test results showed that the resistance of concrete against abrasion and rapid chloride permeability of the concrete mixture containing UFS up to 20 wt% were almost similar to the values of control mix. The findings suggest that UFS can effectively replace river sand. However, it is recommended that the replacement should not exceed 20 wt%.

Optimization of Biodiesel Synthesis from Calophyllum inophyllum

In this study, nano-size calcium-based heterogeneous catalyst derived from lime sludge was used for biodiesel production. Its catalytic activity in transesterification of Calophyllum inophyllum (C. inophyllum) oil and the physicochemical properties of synthesized biodiesel were systematically investigated. Due to high free fatty acids two-step acid esterification and alkali transesterification were performed. Transesterification reaction follows pseudo-first-order kinetics and their rate constants were determined. Activation energy and frequency factor were found to be 20.69 kJ mol–1 and 0.219 s–1, respectively. The fuel properties of the derived biodiesel was analyzed according to ASTM methods.

Conversion of bio-solids (scum) from tannery effluent treatment plant into biodiesel

ABSTRACT The search for a suitable low cost feedstock for the production of biodiesel has resulted in biodiesel being produced from bio-solids (scum) taken from the tannery effluent treatment facility. The effectively extracted oil was subjected to combined esterification and transesterification using an acid catalyst. The process was optimized for parameters like catalyst concentration, temperature, time, oil to methanol molar ratio and stirring rate. The result was the yield of 0.55 kg of biodiesel from 1 kg wet scum. The physicochemical properties of the produced biodiesel are in the acceptable range of fuel used in diesel engines. The paper also addresses the quality issues regarding minor components like heavy metals and aromatic contents.

Studies on three-phase three-dimensional hybrid electrochemical reactor for treating textile effluent

In this study, a bipolar airlift type three-phase three-dimensional electrode reactor was used to investigate the colour removal of Acid Black 210 dye and overall chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the simulated textile effluent. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) beads containing activated carbon (AC) are used for the fabrication of three-dimensional electrodes in the reactor. The experimental results show that the removal efficiency depends on the initial dye concentrations, bead loading, supporting electrolyte concentration, applied cell voltage, initial pH, air flow rates and AC (wt%) in beads. The results reveal that the three-phase three-dimensional electrodes effectively remove the colour of 100 ppm Acid Black 210 dye and overall COD by 100 and 92.1%, respectively, at optimum operating conditions (bead loading: 30.0 g L–1; NaCl: 2000 ppm; cell voltage: 20.0 V; pH: 7.0; air flow rate: 4.0 L min–1; 1.25 wt% of AC) within 10 min. The colour and COD removal efficiencies of the three-dimensional reactor were higher compared to those of a two-dimensional reactor at similar reaction conditions (i.e., 72.92% of colour removal efficiency and 64.16% of COD removal efficiency for a two-dimensional reactor). The results also indicate that the optimum conditions for colour removal may not be necessarily the same as those of overall COD. The rates of COD and colour removal were very well-fitted with pseudo-first order kinetics.

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the extraction of bio oil from Chlorella vulgaris and the subsequent biodiesel production

Abstract This research article investigates the extraction of bio-oil from Chlorella vulgaris algae which is then subjected to biodiesel production. To evaluate the maximum oil content, four different pretreatment methods and solvent systems were inspected. Among them, maximum oil yield was obtained from ultrasonic pretreated biomass followed by methanol and methyl tertiary butyl ether solvent extraction. Physico-chemical properties of the bio-oil were analyzed as per AOAC Official Methods. The experiments were then designed to determine how variation in different process parameters influences extraction. From these results, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were also analyzed. The positive values of ΔS and ΔH and the negative value of ΔG indicate that this process is endothermic, irreversible and spontaneous, respectively. The extracted bio-oil was then subjected to acid catalyzed reaction for biodiesel production. A yield of 98.2 wt% biodiesel was obtained at the optimized condition. Fuel properties were analyzed as per ASTM methods.

Production of Biofuel from Animal Fat Using Nano-catalyst via Single Step Transesterification Process

The present investigation is carried out for the production of biofuel (biodiesel) from animal fat with an active and promising nano-catalyst (Cs/Al/Fe3O4) via transesterification process. The catalyst was prepared by chemical precipitation and impregnation method through which nano size was controlled. Characterization was done by using SEM, XRD, TGA and BET to identify morphology, chemical composition, thermal stability and surface area respectively. The conversion of animal fat to fatty acid methyl ester was influenced by reaction conditions such as molar ratio of methanol to oil, catalyst concentration, reaction time and temperature. The optimum results were obtained at 60 min reaction time at 60 °C for 3 wt% nano-catalyst and 12:1 methanol to oil molar ratio to achieve a maximum yield of 97 wt%. The processed biodiesel was characterized as per ASTM methods and compare with ASTM standards.

Tyre Pyrolysis by Using Nano-catalyst to Improve Energy Efficiency and Fuel Quality

Scrap tires are harmful waste because they are non-biodegradable, emit toxins, create disposable problems and produces dioxines when burnt. Technological conversion of scrap tires to fuel by pyrolysis exists. This study is about taking it one step further by using nano Calcium Oxide (CaO) catalyst derived from mineral industry waste. The nano-catalyst was synthesized from waste and characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA, BET analysis. From the laboratory studies it was observed that this catalyst reduces the associated pollution problems and increases the energy economy. The fuel thus produced had reduced sulphur due to the formation of sulphated salts during pyrolysis. Further, it is intended towards optimizing the process to produce quality fuel. The fuel produced was recovered in three distinct product streams and characterized as per ASTM test methods. Thus, this advanced process gives an integrated solution which is environmentally and economically superior for conversion of waste tyres to fuel.