1. Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Catalytic Conversion of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate for Production of Methyl Ester
A. W. Nursulihatimarsyila1, H.L.N. Lau1, Y.M. Choo1 and Mohd. Basri Wahid1
1Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), No.6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru
Bangi, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Abstract
In this research, high free fatty acid (FFA) in palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) was esterified into methyl esters by using in the presence of mild solid acid catalyst and a suitable amount of excess methanol followed by transesterification. The mild solid acid catalyst can effectively produce alkyl esters and convert FFA at any concentration in the PFAD.
Introduction
Production of methyl ester or biodiesel from fatty acids distillate as cheaper raw materials have been seriously considered by most biodiesel producers to reduce its production cost. PFAD is a by-product obtained from palm oil physical refining which stands as an attractive feedstock for biodiesel production. Malaysian refiners have produced 880,000 tonnes of PFAD in PFAD has been widely used in the soap-making industries and as animal feed formulation. Other inexpensive starting materials for biodiesel production include used frying oil, sludge oil from palm oil mill and waste oil from industry with high fatty acids content.
Methodology
Multistage esterification process for converting high FFA in PFAD
to produce PFAD biodiesel has been carried out as shown as below.
PFAD
Acid catalyst & Methanol
Figure 1. Palm fatty acid distillate
Esterification
Methanol recovery
Purification
Figure 2. Palm fatty acid distillate biodiesel
Result
This research was successfully esterified high
FFA PFAD into methyl ester. Properties of the
product as tabulated as below.
Base catalyst & Methanol
Transesterification
Table 1. Properties of palm fatty acid distillate methyl ester
Property
Unit
PFAD biodiesel
EN 14214
Ester content
% (mass)
>98
96.5 (min)
Oxidation stability,110°C
hour
18.9
6.0 (min)
Acid Value
mg KOH /g
0.35
0.5 (max)
Linolenic acid methyl ester
0.4
12 (max)
Monoglyceride content
0.10
0.8 (max)
Diglyceride content
0.01
0.2 (max)
Triglyceride content
0.00
Biodiesel / Glycerol Separation
Methanol
recovery
Water
Washing
Drying
PFAD biodiesel
PUBLICATIONS
1. H.L.N. Lau, A.W. Nursulihatimarsyila, Y.M Choo
Production Technology of Biodiesel from Palm Fatty Acid
Distillate.Poster presenter in: Transfer of Technology MPOB
2009.
2. H.L.N. Lau, A.W. Nursulihatimarsyila, Y.M. Choo.
Patent paper : A Method of Converting Free Fatty Acid (FFA)
from Oil to Methyl Ester. Date of filling : 29 October 2009.
Conclusion
As conclusion, the PFAD biodiesel produced meets
the European Biodiesel Standard EN

2. Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. No. of esterification batch
Production of Biodiesel from Waste Acid Oils Using Solid Acid Catalysts
A.W. Nursulihatimarsyila1, H.L.N. Lau1, Y.M. Choo1 and Mohd. Basri Wahid1
1Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), No.6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru
Bangi, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Abstract
This paper presents application of solid acid catalyst in batch-wise esterification process for the production of biodiesel from waste acid oils prior to transesterification. The acid oil used in the study was obtained from a local soap splitting plant. Results indicated that the solid acid catalyst showing good activity to produce an intermediate ester from waste acid oil with free fatty acids (FFA) reduced to below 3%, which is acceptable for transesterification process if necessary.
Introduction
The major challenges for the production of biodiesel (methyl ester) from refined vegetable oil is the high feedstock cost. In 2008, Malaysia has exported about 170,000 tonnes of biodiesel overseas. Most of the biodiesel producers have experienced hard time and merely able to survive with thin margin. Therefore, it is not practical to produce methyl ester from edible oil in time of high feedstock cost. The use of cheap raw materials or acid oils will definitely improve the economic feasibility of methyl ester production.
Methodology
The production of acid oil biodiesel from waste acid oils applying esterification and transesterification process was illustrated as below.
Waste
acid oil
Esterification
Acid catalyst
& Methanol
Methanol recovery
Transesterification
Acid oil
biodiesel
Base catalyst & Methanol
Results
Figure 1. Waste acid oil
Product
Feedstock
Table 1. Effect of catalyst type on multistage esterification of FFA in waste acid oil
No. of esterification batch
Solid acid catalyst
(Dosage,%wt)
Result of FFA
(%) 1
ρ-Toulene sulphonic acid (1%wt)
2.67 2
Ferric
sulphate(1%wt)
2.93
Conclusion
The developed esterification process can be implemented
for various types of waste oils containing high FFA followed by transesterification process.
Figure 2. Waste acid oil
biodiesel

3. CHARACTERIZATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM OIL PALM BIOMASS
A.W. Nursulihatimarsyila1, H.L.N. Lau1, Y.M. Choo1 and Mohd. Basri Wahid1
1Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), No.6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru
Bangi, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
ABSTRACT
The activated carbon was prepared from different palm biomass sources i.e. empty fruit bunch, palm fibre and palm kernel shell using pyrolysis followed by physical activation in a quartz tube furnace. The bio-chars that obtained from pyrolysis with higher carbon content were selected for the preparation of activated carbon. These bio-chars were physically activated by carbon dioxide flow at different heating rate, activation temperature and activation time in order to improve their properties. The activation of bio-char was prepared at °C for hr with heating rate of 5-20°C/min in quartz tube furnace. The results revealed that the physical properties i.e. BET surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter is m2/g, cm3/g and nm, respectively, indicated that the activated carbon can be used as high grade adsorbent in water treatment, gas purification, dye removal and substitute carbon black as filler in tires manufacturing instead of using conventional activated carbon which is more expensive carbon precursor from coal and charcoal.
INTRODUCTION
The production of oil palm biomass i.e. empty fruit bunch, mesocarp fibre and palm kernel shell, in Malaysia is ranging from 20 to 25 million tonnes per year from 85 million tonnes of fresh fruit bunch processed in Since the oil palm biomass is renewable and potentially less expensive than carbon precursors to produce cheaper activated carbon, the opportunity to develop and exploring the market potential of renewable type of activated carbon from oil palm biomass e.g. empty fruit bunch, palm fibre and palm kernel shell is promising. Activated carbon is well-known in the art for its capability to remove impurities or thousands of variety of harmful chemicals from solutions phases i.e. liquid and gas phases. It is an amorphous form of carbon having a very large surface area ranging from about 500 to 1500 m2 per gram and having a highly developed internal pore structure. Activation process can be accomplished by one of two types of processes such as chemical activation and physical activation. This research is focused on the physical activation process employs carbon dioxide as cleaning and oxidizing agents used in the production of activated carbon with temperature ranging from °C.
METHODOLOGY
Drying
Grinding
Pyrolysis
Raw
material
Surface
characteristic
analysis
ASAP 2010
Physical
activation
Activated
carbon
Bio-char
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The physical activation process was employed to produce microporous activated carbons from oil palm biomass. The porosity of the activated carbon produced was characterized using nitrogen adsorption isotherms at 77K. The optimum conditions for activation were of activation temperature of 800°C and retention time of 30 min for palm fibre and empty fruit bunch and 1 hour for palm kernel shell, which gave the maximum BET specific surface area (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Nitrogen Adsorption-desorption Isotherm
of Palm Bio-char at 77K