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Production, characterization and application of ternary phase diagrams for the purification of biodiesel produced from tropical almond seed oil


K.K. Adama
U.P. Onochie
E. Gbeinzi

Abstract

This study presents the application of ternary phase diagrams to tropical almond biodiesel components separation and purification at two temperatures. The seed oil was extracted mechanically and alkaline transesterified to produce biodiesel. The oil and biodiesel were characterized using standard methods. Tie lines and binodal solubility curve data were determined using modified cloud point titration procedures. Gas chromatographic method was employed in the analysis of the phase compositions. The mixture of biodiesel, methanol and glycerol were investigated at 20 °C, 30 °C and withdrawal times of 2 to 32 minutes at 2 minutes intervals. Distribution coefficient, K and solvent selectivity, S analysis were performed. Results obtained showed that S > 1 indicating the ability of methanol to promote phase separation and purification. K < 1 implying that there was lower quantities of methanol solubilized in the biodiesel phase. The ternary phase diagrams provided the means of predicting the components distribution.


Keywords: Production, Characterization, Tropical Almond Biodiesel, Purification, Ternary Phase Diagram


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eISSN: 2467-8821
print ISSN: 0331-8443