Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: A Preliminary Assessment of the Potash Biocatalyst Potential of Empty-Oil-Palm-Bunch (EOPB) Residues for Biodiesel Production
by Uyigue, L., Viele, E.L. and Chukwuma, F.O.

Abstract:
This paper is focusing on the need to secure a high purity potash-alkali catalyst from EOPB residues (wastes of the oil palm industry), which is capable of replacing the existing synthetic source for the local production of biodiesel. In it, measured EOPB residues were subjected to pretreatment processes such as drying and incineration. This resulted to the formation of EOPB-ash. The ash was digested in distilled water at 60 oC for 12 h amidst frequent agitation. The recovered EOPB-ash extract was evaporated and dried to form the solid potash. An analysis of the EOPB residue pretreatment process showed: moisture content, 57.12 %; dry matter, 42.88 % and ash content, 7.33 %. Also, using the method of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), the metal content of the EOPB-ash was analyzed as: Potassium, 61 %; magnesium, 25 %; calcium, 12 %; sodium, 1% and traces of other metals. This result confirmed the potash-alkali potentials of the EOPB-ash. The potash-alkali content of the solid potash was analyzed as: KOH, 41.55 g/dm3 and K2CO3, 102.4 g/dm3, while its composition in the solid potash and EOPB-ash were 87.1 and 57.6 % respectively. Thus, the solid potash was recommended as a more appropriate potash biocatalyst for a high yield biodiesel production.

Keywords: EOPB-ash extract, potash-alkali content, potash biocatalyst, biodiesel

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