Use of residual soapstock from the refining of edible vegetable oils to make biodiesel

Abstract

A procedure to obtain Biodiesel from “Oleinas” is studied. Biodiesel is a suitable product to replace diesel oil currently used to power the Diesel engines. It consists of a mixture of methyl esters of the fatty acids presents as triglycerides in vegetables oils (olive, sunflower, soya, rape oils). As a result of the refining of these oils for their use as food, a waste product is formed, the “oleinas” (acidulated soapstock). The oleinas consist of a mixture of triglycerides and free fatty acids, the latter amounting to 50% or more of the mixture and are subject to a fluctuating market, therefore it exist at times a problem for their disposal. In our research work we have tried to obtain biodiesel from oleinas. The process resulting from our experimental work is as follows:
1. Sterification of the free fatty acids with methanol, by acid catalysis, centrifuging the reaction product and removal of the acid-methanol phase. Drying of the latter. At this stage we have a product containing about 70% of methyl esters.
2. Transesterification of the triglycerides present in the sterified product with methanol by alkaline catalysis, washing the reaction product with a water methanol solution. Centrifuging and removal of the water-methanol phase. At this stage a biodiesel product is obtained containing about 90% of methyl esters.
3. Fractional vacuum distillation of the 90% biodiesel gives a final product with a methyl esters content higher than 98%.