Biodiesel Production from Maize Acid Oil Feedstock Using Various Solid Acid Catalysts

Abstract

Developing countries such as India, require higher industrial manufacturing growth to newlinebecome a developed country. This is possible if manufacturing sector gets sufficient electricity newlineand transportation. Fossil fuels are used to meet the requirement of electricity and newlinetransportation. Now if the country depends on other countries for fossil fuels, then it is not newlinepossible to become a developed country from a developing country. So these countries have to newlinerely upon renewable resources such as, biodiesel, solar energy, hydropower, wind power etc. newlineIn this thesis, the main focus is on biodiesel synthesis from maize acid oil, its characterisation newlineand investigation on feasibility of using produced biodiesel (with diesel) as fuel through engine newlinetests. The cost of biodiesel depends on the cost of the oil feedstocks and catalyst. Therefore, newlineless expensive maize acid oil was selected as a feedstock and the solid acid catalyst derived newlinefrom waste products are used for catalysed synthesis of biodiesel. newlineThe thesis entitled, Biodiesel Production from Maize Acid Oil Feedstock Using newlineVarious Solid Acid Catalysts involves the synthesis and characterization of various solid newlineacid catalysts (SAC, SBA-15-Pr-SO3H, SFA) and their applications in biodiesel production newlinefrom maize acid oil feedstock. The thesis consist of six chapters. Chapter-I covers newlinecomprehensive literature review on various oil feedstocks and relevant catalytic reaction newlinemechanism for biodiesel production. Literature studies helped to select the suitable feedstock, newlineprocess and catalyst for biodiesel production. Special emphasis is placed on solid acid catalyst newlineand waste oil feedstocks. The subsequent chapters cover synthesis and characterization of newlinevarious solid acid catalysts for biodiesel production from maize acid oil, discussion on newlineinvestigated properties of fresh and five-months stored biodiesel and biodiesel blends, newlineperformance of biodiesel tested via CI-engine tests.