Bioresource Technology, Vol.174, 302-305, 2014
Biodiesel production by combined fatty acids separation and subsequently enzymatic esterification to improve the low temperature properties
The poor low-temperature properties of biodiesel, which provokes easy crystallization at low temperature, can cause fuel line plugging and limits its blending amount with petro-diesel. This work aimed to study the production of biodiesel with a new process of improving the low temperature performance of biodiesel. Waste cooking oil was first hydrolyzed into fatty acids (FAs) by 60 g immobilized lipase and 240 g RO water in 15 h. Then, urea complexation was used to divide the FAs into saturated and unsaturated components. The conditions for complexation were: FA-to-urea ratio 1: 2 (w/w), methanol to FA ratio 5: 1 (v/v), duration 2 h. The saturated and unsaturated FAs were then converted to iso-propyl and methyl esters by lipase, respectively. Finally, the esters were mixed together. The CFPP of this mixture was decreased from 5 degrees C to -3 degrees C. Hydrolysis, urea complexation and enzymic catalyzed esterification processes are discussed in this paper. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.