(2017) Bioresource Technology_Establishing a green platform for biodiesel synthesis via strategic utilization of biochar and dimethyl carbonate

Lee J., Jung J.-M., Oh J.-I., Sik Ok Y., Kwon E.E.

(Elsevier Ltd) Bioresource Technology ISSN: 9608524 Vol.241 Issue. Article No. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.05.187

To establish a green platform for biodiesel production, this study mainly investigates pseudo-catalytic (non-catalytic) transesterification of olive oil. To this end, biochar from agricultural waste (maize residue) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as an acyl acceptor were used for pseudo-catalytic transesterification reaction. Reaction parameters (temperature and molar ratio of DMC to olive oil) were also optimized. The biodiesel yield reached up to 95.4% under the optimal operational conditions (380 °C and molar ratio of DMC to olive oil (36:1)). The new sustainable environmentally benign biodiesel production introduced in this study is greener and faster than conventional transesterification reactions. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korean Government (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST)) (No. NRF-2016R1D1A1B03933027).