Ruzaimah Nik M. Kamil

Optimisation on pretreatment of rubber seed (Hevea brasiliensis) oil via esterification reaction in a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor.

Pretreatment of the high free fatty acid rubber seed oil (RSO) via esterification reaction has been investigated by using a pilot scale hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) reactor. Four newly designed orifice plate geometries are studied. Cavities are induced by assisted double diaphragm pump in the range of 1-3.5 bar inlet pressure. An optimised plate with 21 holes of 1mm diameter and inlet pressure of 3 bar resulted in RSO acid value reduction from 72.36 to 2.64 mg KOH/g within 30 min of reaction time. Reaction parameters have been optimised by using response surface methodology and found as methanol to oil ratio of 6:1, catalyst concentration of 8 wt%, reaction time of 30 min and reaction temperature of 55°C. The reaction time and esterified efficiency of HC was three fold shorter and four fold higher than mechanical stirring. This makes the HC process more environmental friendly.

Pilot scale intensification of rubber seed (Hevea brasiliensis) oil via chemical interesterification using hydrodynamic cavitation technology

Chemical interesterification of rubber seed oil has been investigated for four different designed orifice devices in a pilot scale hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) system. Upstream pressure within 1-3.5bar induced cavities to intensify the process. An optimal orifice plate geometry was considered as plate with 1mm dia hole having 21 holes at 3bar inlet pressure. The optimisation results of interesterification were revealed by response surface methodology; methyl acetate to oil molar ratio of 14:1, catalyst amount of 0.75wt.% and reaction time of 20min at 50°C. HC is compared to mechanical stirring (MS) at optimised values. The reaction rate constant and the frequency factor of HC were 3.4-fold shorter and 3.2-fold higher than MS. The interesterified product was characterised by following EN 14214 and ASTM D 6751 international standards.

Biodiesel Production from the High Free Fatty Acid “Hevea brasiliensis” and Fuel Properties Characterization

Energy crises, depletion of fossil fuel reservoirs, environmental pollution, global warming, green house effect and starvation are becoming very serious problems in the modern world. Biodiesel is a liquid fuel which can be the best alternative for the fossil fuels. In this study, non-edible rubber seed oil (RSO) with high free fatty acid (FFA) content (45%) was used for the production of biodiesel. The process comprises of two steps, in the first step acid esterification was used to reduce the FFA and in the second step base transesterification was employed to convert the treated oil into rubber seed oil methyl esters (RSOMEs). The conversion yield of biodiesel was analyzed using gas chromatography. The fuel properties were tested using the standard procedure of ASTM D6751 and EN14214. All the properties were within the ranges of the biodiesel standards. The result shows that rubber seed oil is a potential non-edible source for biodiesel production.

Parametric Study and Improvement in Fuel Properties of Pre-Blended Methyl Esters from Crude Palm and Rubber Seed Oil

Environmental emissions concerns and the precautions of energy supply have motivated curiosity in the growth of alternatives for fossil based energy carriers and chemicals. Biodiesel as an alternative fuel has a potential to overcome energy crisis and reduce exhaust emissions to environment. Unutilized Rubber seed oil (RSO) alkyl esters have a huge potential to avoid food scarcity issue with contributing to energy sector. Current research contributes to produce biodiesel from the crude blends of palm oil and RSO. Parameters that effect base transesterification were extensively studied and methyl esters were characterized according to international biodiesel standards. The low-temperature flow properties and oxidation stability of the produced methyl esters were enhanced by blending with Fossil Diesel (FD) fuel.

Extraction of Phenol and Acetic Acid from Synthetic Bio-Oil by Ammonium Sulfate Solution

This work aims to develop an extraction process for valuable chemicals such as phenolic bio-oil derived from pyrolysis techniques consists of a complex mixture of phenolic, organic acids, ketones and aldehydes compounds. Chemicals such as phenolic compound and acetic acid are attractive for extraction due to their high value compared to fuel and energy product. In this study, synthetic bio-oil is synthesized to represent the actual pyrolysis oil and selection of suitable salt concentrations has been investigated for systematic extraction system development. Synthetic bio-oil was characterized and the results found to be comparable with the properties of pyrolysis oil. Optimum ammonium sulfate concentration for extraction were in the range of less than 20 wt.%. The highest acetic acid yields was 0.1948 wt.% at 20 wt.% concentration of (NH4)2SO4. While, phenol was rich in organic phase with the highest yield at 30 wt.% of (NH4)2SO4.

Improvement of Low Temperature Properties of Jatropha-Corn Biodiesel Blend with the Addition of Acrylic Co-Polymer

Inevitable low temperature properties is one of the major problems in commercialization of pure biodiesel. Increasing the usage of edible oil in biodiesel production creates the fuel versus food controversy. This paper involves the study of cold flow properties of edible and non-edible oils biodiesel. Corn biodiesel and jatropha biodiesel are blended respectively. The blend ratio of corn methyl ester and jatropha methyl ester CME: JME (20:80) has the oxidative stability of 6.42 hours and cold filter plugging point value of-2 oC. An additive of acrylic co-polymer as the cold flow improver (CFI) reduced the CFPP value from-2 oC to-6 oC which results in better low temperature properties of corn-jatropha biodiesel blend.