Parameter optimization for enhanced biodiesel yield from Linum usitatissimum oil through solar energy assistance

Abstract

Biodiesel is a biofuel produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. The study describes the solarassisted biodiesel production from linseed oil and the parameter optimization using Taguchi's L 27 orthogonal approach and response surface methodology (RSM). A solar paraboloid dish of collector area 6.1 m 2 and concentration ratio approx. 200 is used for the transesteri cation process. The yearly and daily solar radiation data shows that May-June has longer solar radiation availability during the daytime; and are favorable months for experimentation. The results show that Taguchi's approach gives a maximum biodiesel yield of 89.14%, while the RSM model offers a slightly higher 91.9% yield. However, the RSM analysis predicted 91.1% (maximum biodiesel yield) at molar ratio (MR) 8.92:1, reaction time (RT) 108.97 minutes, and catalyst concentration (CC) 0.61 wt.%, respectively. The ANOVA analysis found that the MR has the highest percentage contribution of 75.67%, followed by CC (15.9%) and RT (5.69%).The biodiesel composition is determined using gas chromatography, and the various other fuel properties are measured as per ASTM testing methods. The study successfully con rms the solar heating usage for the transesteri cation process.

Simulation and Optimization of Biohydrogen Production from Biomass Feed via Anaerobic Digestion

“…The RSM optimizes the statistical data and mathematical models. A DoE was generated by using central composite design (CCD) in Design Expert software 22, 23. The input parameters taken to generate the DoE were PTT, F/W, and HRT.…”