Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil Using Response Surface Methodology

  • Published:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The short supply of edible vegetable oils is the limiting factor in the progression of biodiesel technology; thus, in this study, we applied response surface methodology in order to optimize the reaction factors for biodiesel synthesis from inedible castor oil. Specifically, we evaluated the effects of multiple parameters and their reciprocal interactions using a five-level three-factor design. In a total of 20 individual experiments, we optimized the reaction temperature, oil-to-methanol molar ratio, and quantity of catalyst. Our model equation predicted that the following conditions would generate the maximum quantity of castor biodiesel (92 wt.%): a 40-min reaction at 35.5 °C, with an oil-to-methanol molar ratio of 1:8.24, and a catalyst concentration of 1.45% of KOH by weight of castor oil. Subsequent empirical analyses of the biodiesel generated under the predicted conditions showed that the model equation accurately predicted castor biodiesel yields within the tested ranges. The biodiesel produced from castor oil satisfied the relevant quality standards without regard to viscosity and cold filter plugging point.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Canada)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mittelbach, M., & Remschmidt, C. (2004). Biodiesel—the comprehensive handbook (1st ed.). Austria: Boersedruck Ges.m.b.H.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kim, H. R. (2002). Prospectives of Industrial Chemistry, 5, 27–34.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Jeong, G. T., & Park, D. H. (2006). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 129–132, 668–679. doi:10.1385/ABAB:131:1:668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Park, J. Y., Kim, D. K., Wang, Z. M., Lu, P., Park, S. C., & Lee, J. S. (2008). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 148, 109–117. doi:10.1007/s12010-007-8082-2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lang, X., Dalai, A. K., Bakhshi, N. N., Reaney, M. J., & Hertz, P. B. (2001). Bioresource Technology, 80, 53–62. doi:10.1016/S0960-8524(01)00051-7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ma, F., & Hanna, M. A. (1999). Bioresource Technology, 70, 1–15. doi:10.1016/S0960-8524(99)00025-5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Graboski, M. S., & McCormick, R. L. (1998). Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 24, 125–164. doi:10.1016/S0360-1285(97)00034-8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Jeong, G. T., Oh, Y. T., & Park, D. H. (2006). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 129–132, 165–178. doi:10.1385/ABAB:129:1:165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Scholz, V., & Silva, J. N. (2007). Prospects and risks of the use of castor oil as a fuel. Biomass and Bioenergy, 32, 95–100. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2007.08.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ogunniyi, D. S. (2006). Bioresource Technology, 97, 1086–1091. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2005.03.028.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Meneghetti, S. M. P., Meneghetti, M. R., Wolf, C. R., Silva, E. C., Lima, G. E. S., Silva, L. L., et al. (2006). Energy & Fuels, 20, 2262–2265. doi:10.1021/ef060118m.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Silva, N. D. L. D., Maciel, M. R. W. M., Batistella, C. B., & Filho, R. M. (2006). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 129–132, 405–414. doi:10.1385/ABAB:130:1:405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Oliveira, D., Luccio, M. D., Faccio, C., Rosa, C. D., Bender, J. P., Lipke, N., et al. (2005). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 121–124, 553–560. doi:10.1385/ABAB:122:1-3:0553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Meneghetti, S. M. P., Meneghetti, M. R., Serra, T. M., Barbosa, D. C., & Wolf, C. R. (2007). Energy & Fuels, 21(6), 3746–3747. doi:10.1021/ef070039q.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Varma, M. N., & Madras, G. (2007). Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 46(1), 1–6. doi:10.1021/ie0607043.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jeong, G. T., Kim, D. H., & Park, D. H. (2007). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 136–140, 583–594. doi:10.1007/s12010-007-9081-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Jeong, G. T., Yang, H. S., & Park, D. H. (2009). Bioresource Technology, 100, 25–30. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2008.05.011.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Freedman, B., Pryde, E. H., & Mounts, T. L. (1984). Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, 61, 1683–1643.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Vicente, G., Coteron, M., Martinez, M., & Aracil, J. (1998). Industrial Crops and Products, 8, 29–35. doi:10.1016/S0926-6690(97)10003-6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Shieh, C. J., Liao, H. F., & Lee, C. C. (2003). Bioresource Technology, 88, 103–106. doi:10.1016/S0960-8524(02)00292-4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Shaw, J. F., Wu, H. Z., & Shieh, C. J. (2003). Food Chemistry, 81, 91–96. doi:10.1016/S0308-8146(02)00383-7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Korean Standard Association (2003). Animal and vegetable fats and oils analysis by gas chromatography of methyl esters of fatty acids (KS H ISO 5508). Geneva: ISO.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is an outcome of the fostering project of the Specialized Graduate School, which is supported financially by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Engineering Research Institute, Interdisciplinary Program of Graduate School for Bioenergy & Biomaterials, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea

    Gwi-Taek Jeong

  2. School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Interdisciplinary Program of Graduate School for Bioenergy & Biomaterials, Biotechnology Research Institute, Institute of Bioindustrial Technology, Research Institute for Catalysis, Functional Food Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea

    Don-Hee Park

Authors
  1. Gwi-Taek Jeong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Don-Hee Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Don-Hee Park.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jeong, GT., Park, DH. Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil Using Response Surface Methodology. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 156, 1–11 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8468-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8468-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation