Challenge of biodiesel production from sewage sludge catalyzed by KOH, KOH/activated carbon, and KOH/CaO

Xuemin Wu, Fenfen Zhu, Juanjuan Qi, Luyao Zhao, Fawei Yan, Chenghui Li

PDF(2157 KB)
PDF(2157 KB)
Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. ›› 2017, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (2) : 3. DOI: 10.1007/s11783-017-0913-y
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Challenge of biodiesel production from sewage sludge catalyzed by KOH, KOH/activated carbon, and KOH/CaO

Author information +
History +

Abstract

The preparation reactions were catalyzed by base solid catalysts.

The preparation reactions were catalyzed by two loaded catalysts and KOH.

KOH/activated carbon was a better catalyst for biodiesel production.

The considerable compounds content, abundance, and low costs involved has led to the proposal to use sewage sludge as raw material for biodiesel production. The transesterification reaction is catalyzed using an acid catalyst instead of base catalysts because of the high free fatty acid concentration. However, the use of a base catalyst, particularly a solid base catalyst, has certain advantages, including faster reaction speed and easier separation. In this study, we utilize in situ transesterification by base catalyst (KOH, KOH/activated carbon (AC) and KOH/CaO) with sewage sludge as raw material. Many conditions have been tested to increase biodiesel yield through single-factor tests, including mass fraction and catalyst dosage. Preliminary experiments have optimized reaction time and temperature. However, the three catalysts did not work better than H2SO4, which had a maximum yield of 4.6% (dry sewage sludge base) considering the purity by KOH, KOH/CaO, and KOH/AC. The features of the catalyst were analyzed using XRD, BET and SEM. As to BET of KOH/AC and the good spiculate formation of KOH crystal appears to be essential to its function. As for KOH/CaO, the formation of K2O and absorption points is likely essential.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Biodiesel / Sewage sludge / Base catalyst / In situ transesterification

Cite this article

Download citation ▾
Xuemin Wu, Fenfen Zhu, Juanjuan Qi, Luyao Zhao, Fawei Yan, Chenghui Li. Challenge of biodiesel production from sewage sludge catalyzed by KOH, KOH/activated carbon, and KOH/CaO. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2017, 11(2): 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-017-0913-y

References

[1]
Yan S, Kim M, Salley S O, Ng K Y S. Oil transesterification over calcium oxides modified with lanthanum. Applied Catalysis A, General, 2009, 360(2): 163–170
CrossRef Google scholar
[2]
Knothe G. Introduction. In: Knothe G, Krahl J, Gerpen J V, eds. Biodiesel Handbook. Champaign, IL: AOCS Press, 2005, 1–3
[3]
Vyas A P, Verma J L, Subrahmanyam N. A review on FAME production processes. Fuel, 2010, 89(1): 1–9
CrossRef Google scholar
[4]
Siddiquee M N, Rohani N J. Lipid extraction and biodiesel production from municipal sewage sludges: a review. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2011, 15(2): 1067–1072
CrossRef Google scholar
[5]
Xue F, Zhang X, Luo H, Tan T. A new method for preparing raw material for biodiesel production. Process Biochemistry, 2006, 41(7): 1699–1702
CrossRef Google scholar
[6]
Haas M J, Scott K M, Foglia T A, Marmer W N. The general applicability of in situ transesterification for the production of fatty acid esters from a variety of feedstocks. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 2007, 84(10): 963–970
CrossRef Google scholar
[7]
Revellame E, Hernandez R, French W, Holmes W A E, Alley E. Biodiesel from activated sludge through in situ transesterification. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 2010, 85(5): 614–620
CrossRef Google scholar
[8]
Liu B, Zhao Z. Biodiesel production by direct methanolysis of oleaginous microbial biomass. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 2007, 82(8): 775–780
CrossRef Google scholar
[9]
Jardé E, Mansuy L, Faure P. Organic markers in the lipidic fraction of sewage sludges. Water Research, 2005, 39(7): 1215–1232
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[10]
Wright D A. Activated Sludge MOP OM-9. 2nd ed. Alexandria, Virginia: Water Environment Federation, 2002
[11]
Xu G, Zhang B, Liu S, Yue J. Study on immobilized lipase catalyzed transesterification reaction of tung oil. Agricultural Sciences in China, 2006, 5(11): 859–864
CrossRef Google scholar
[12]
Haas M J, Foglia T A. Biodiesel production. In: Biodiesel Handbook. Champaign, IL: AOCS Press, 2005, 42–61
[13]
Mondala A, Liang K, Toghiani H, Hernandez R, French T. Biodiesel production by in situ transesterification of municipal primary and secondary sludges. Bioresource Technology, 2009, 100(3): 1203–1210
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[14]
Charoenchaitrakool M, Thienmethangkoon J. Statistical optimization for biodiesel production from waste frying oil through two-step catalyzed process. Fuel Processing Technology, 2011, 92(1): 112–118
CrossRef Google scholar
[15]
Jena P C, Raheman H, Prasanna Kumar G V, Machavaram R. Biodiesel production from mixture of mahua and simarouba oils with high free fatty acids. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2010, 34(8): 1108–1116
CrossRef Google scholar
[16]
Nakpong P, Wootthikanokkhan S. High free fatty acid coconut oil as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production in Thailand. Renewable Energy, 2010, 35(8): 1682–1687
CrossRef Google scholar
[17]
Yang Y N, Li H. Recovering humic substances from the dewatering effluent of thermally treated sludge and its performance as an organic fertilizer. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2016, 10(3): 578–584
CrossRef Google scholar
[18]
Dufreche S, Hernandez R, French T, Sparks D, Zappi M, Alley E. Extraction of lipids from municipal wastewater plant microorganisms for production of biodiesel. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 2007, 84(2): 181–187
CrossRef Google scholar
[19]
Boocock D G B, Konar S K, Leung A, Ly L D. Fuels and chemicals from sewage sludge: 1.The solvent extraction and composition of a lipid from raw sewage sludge. Fuel, 1992, 71(11): 1283–1289
CrossRef Google scholar
[20]
Qi J, Zhu F, Wei X, Zhao L, Xiong Y, Wu X. In situ transesterification of sewage sludge from A2/O and MBR processes for biodiesel production. Waste Management, 2016, 49(4): 212–220
[21]
Pastore C, Lopez A, Lotito V, Mascolo G. Biodiesel from dewatered wastewater sludge: a two-step process for a more advantageous production. Chemosphere, 2013, 92(6): 667–673
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[22]
Nuithitikul K, Prasitturattanachai W. Activity of sulfated aluminium-tin mixed oxides for the esterification of free fatty acids in crude palm oil. International Journal of Green Energy, 2014, 11(10): 1097–1106
CrossRef Google scholar
[23]
Islam A, Taufiq-Yap Y H, Chu C M, Chan E S, Ravindra P. Studies on design of heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2013, 91(1–2): 131–144
CrossRef Google scholar
[24]
Juan J C, Kartika D A, Wu T Y, Hin T Y. Biodiesel production from Jatropha oil by catalytic and non-catalytic approaches: an overview. Bioresource Technology, 2011, 102(2): 452–460
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[25]
El-Mashad H M, Zhang R, Avena-Bustillos R J. A two-step process for biodiesel production from salmon oil. Biosystems Engineering, 2008, 99(2): 220–227
CrossRef Google scholar
[26]
Hincapié G, Mondragón F, López D. Conventional and in situ transesterification of castor seed oil for biodiesel production. Fuel, 2011, 90(4): 1618–1623
CrossRef Google scholar
[27]
Kargbo D M. Biodiesel production from municipal sewage sludges: a review. Energy & Fuels, 2010, 24(5): 2791–2794
CrossRef Google scholar
[28]
Wang Y, Feng S, Bai X, Zhao J, Xia S. Scum sludge as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production from wastewater treatment plants. Waste Management (New York, N.Y.), 2016, 47(Pt A): 91–97
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[29]
Haas M J, Scott K M, Marmer W N, Foglia T A. In situ alkaline transesterification: an effective method for the production of fatty acid esters from vegetable oils. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 2004, 81(1): 83–89
CrossRef Google scholar
[30]
Yang L, Lv P, Yuan Z, Luo W, Li H. Different catalysts loaded with KOH for catalytic and synthesis of biodiesel. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress, 2012, 31: 91–94
[31]
Babu N S, Sree R, Prasad P S, Lingaiah N. Room-temperature transesterification of edible and nonedible oils using a heterogeneous strong basic Mg/La catalyst. Energy & Fuels, 2008, 22(3): 1965–1971
CrossRef Google scholar

Acknowledgements

The present study is supported by the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (No. 2013ZX07314-001-006-01); Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 51308538); and the Research Funds of Renmin University of China (No. 15XNLD04).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2017 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
AI Summary AI Mindmap
PDF(2157 KB)

Accesses

Citations

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/