BIODIESEL PRODUCTION AND ASSESSMENT OF ITS PURITY BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract

With the depletion of the oil as principal source of energy, there has arisen the development of the renewable energies. The biofuels as the biogas, ethanol and the biodiesel are examples of renewable energy and they represent the most immediate alternative to replace partly the fossil fuels derived from the oil. The biodiesel is a mix of alkyl esters from reaction of a vegetable or animal fat with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. With the intention of adapting technology of biodiesel production, one tested its production in the laboratory with refined soy bean oil, palm oil and fresh cow tallow.  In the pilot plant the biodiesel was made with waste vegetable oil. The fatty acid methyl esters content was determined using the norm ASTM D6584-08. One found that the biodiesel prepared in the laboratory had a purity in fatty acid methyl esters top to 96,5% whereas prepared in the pilot plant reached a purity of only 85,76%. It am suggested that progress to the plant pilot to produce a better quality of biodiesel. It is suggested to improve the heating and cooling system of pilot plant to produce a better quality of biodiesel.