Biodiesel
INTRODUCTION
The Biodiesel / Biofuel Research Group are focusing on production of biofuel from renewable and sustainable energy resources. Current research topics include biodiesel, bio jetfuel, bio oil, and bioethanol.
Biodiesel from renewable resources is one of the most attractive alternative fuels currently being developed because of its low emissions and its desirable chemical characteristics, such as being non-toxic, biodegradable, and carbon neutral. Additionally, biodiesel fuel can be used in any conventional diesel engine. ‘‘Biodiesel’’ has been defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) as a monoalkyl ester of fatty acids or fatty acid (m)ethyl ester derived from renewable feedstocks, such as vegetable oils. The term ‘‘bio’’ indicates the biological source of biodiesel, in contrast with conventional diesel. The most common process in the production of biodiesel is transesterification which involves alcohol and vegetable oil in the presence of a catalyst to yield biodiesel and glycerol. Several edible and non-edible oils, such as sunflower oil, palm oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, jatropha seed oil, neem oil, rubber seed oil, microalgae oil, silk cotton tree oil, and waste cooking oil have been used as biodiesel feedstocks. However, the use of a food source (edible oil) to produce biodiesel at the expense of the millions of people facing hunger and starvation around the world has received harsh criticism from several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) worldwide. Therefore, the main focus of our biodiesel group is production of biofuel from non-edible resources such as jatropha oil, microalgae oil, waste cooking oil, and biomass
On the other hand, the aviation industry has recently begun investigating alternative fuel sources to replace the conventional fuel, paraffin (also known as kerosene) from crude-oil reserves that are near depletion. Paraffin-based biofuel is getting major interest especially in aviation industries compare to diesel-base biofuel due to it satisfies the properties of conventional jet fuels. Paraffin-based biofuel are characterized by good cold flow properties, proper ratio of hydrocarbons (n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclo paraffins and aromatics) and high energy density . It improved ignition and extinction characteristics, low aromatic content and sulphur content and perfect blending with conventional fuels. When blended with conventional fuel, paraffin-based biofuel can be used in the same aircrafts or engine without further modifications. Vegetable oil or biodiesel can be converted to paraffin-based jet fuel by a process call hydrodeoxygenation over suitable catalyst. Hydrodeoxygenation is the process of removing oxygen from oxygenated feedstocks. Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of vegetable oils results in hydrocarbon fuels with improved ignition qualities.
In recent years a number of studies have been reported on the production of bio-oils from biomass for fuel purposes using thermal liquefaction. Among thermal liquefaction conversion methods, solvolysis is the most widely used method due to relatively lower process temperature compared to pyrolysis process. In the solvolysis process, biomass depolymerizes in the presence of organic reagents to form bio oil. The main objective of our study is to investigate the effect of different organic solvents (ethylene glycol, water, acetone, ethanol, and toluene) on the conversion yield, higher heating value (HHV) and chemical components of the produced oil products. Oil palm empty fruit bunch fibre has been used as feedstock for the solvolysis process.
RESEARCH TEAM
- Prof. Madya Ir Dr Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah, PhD (UKM) – Group Leader
- Prof Ir Dr Zahira Yaakob, PhD (UMIST)
- Prof Dr. Siti Kartom Kamaruddin, PhD (UKM)
- Prof Madya Dr Jaharah Abdul Ghani, PhD (UM)
- Prof Madya Dr Nurina Anuar, PhD (Surrey)
- Prof Dr Sarani Zakaria, PhD (UMIST)
- Dr Masita Mohamad, PhD (UKM)
- En Norhisham Tan Kofli, MSc (UKM)