(2019) Energy Conversion and Management_Synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters via non-catalytic transesterification of avocado oil with dimethyl carbonate

Jung J.-M., Oh J.-I., Kwon D., Park Y.-K., Zhang M., Lee J., Kwon E.E.

(Elsevier Ltd) Energy Conversion and Management ISSN: 1968904 Vol.195 Issue. Article No. DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.04.095

This paper is primarily a case study on transesterification of avocado oil for the synthesis of biodiesel. Many operational parameters and components were studied in an attempt to identify the optimal process for non-catalytic transesterification, and dimethyl carbonate (DMC), an acyl acceptor was identified as key to one very efficient methodology. Non-catalytic transesterification experiments using DMC and/or methanol (MeOH) were conducted under varied temperatures and varied amounts of silica loading. The maximum yield of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) of 92.96% was shown to be achievable at 380 °C. The miscibility of avocado oil and DMC was seen to be a key factor in providing a strategic means for delaying thermal cracking of FAMEs. Lastly, this study reported that the optimal mass ratio of silica to oil was over 8 at 380 °C. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

This work was supported by the New & Renewable Energy Core Technology Program of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) granted financial resource from the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Republic of Korea (No. 20163010092290 ).