title: Optimisation on pretreatment of rubber seed (Hevea brasiliensis) oil via esterification reaction in a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor.
abstract: 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.
authors: Biomass Processing Laboratory, Centre of Biofuel and Biochemical Research (CBBR), Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
authors: Awais
authors: A
authors: Bokhari
authors: Biomass Processing Laboratory, Centre of Biofuel and Biochemical Research (CBBR), Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
authors: Lai Fatt
authors: LF
authors: Chuah
authors: Biomass Processing Laboratory, Centre of Biofuel and Biochemical Research (CBBR), Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: drsuzana_yusuf@petronas.com.my.
authors: Suzana
authors: S
authors: Yusup
authors: Centre for Process Integration and Intensification-CPI(2), Research Institute of Chemical and Process Engineering-MŰKKI, Faculty of Information Technology, University of Pannonia, Egyetem u. 10, H-8200 Veszprém, Hungary.
authors: Jiří Jaromír
authors: JJ
authors: Klemeš
authors: Fundamental and Applied Sciences Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
authors: Ruzaimah Nik M
authors: RNM
authors: Kamil
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002384:Catalysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D004951:Esterification; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000737:chemistry; D028482:Hevea / Q000737:chemistry*; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D010938:Plant Oils; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Bioresource process intensification; Hydrodynamic cavitation; Optimisation; Pretreatment; Rubber seed oil