https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9420-8395
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ABSTRACT
The use of Azolla pinnata oil for the production of biodiesel, coupled with the use of industrial waste dolomite as a catalyst, represents a novel approach with significant potential. This innovative process offers several key advantages, such as utilizing a non-edible feedstock, reducing waste generation, and providing an alternative to fossil fuels. This research aims to investigate the viability of creating biodiesel using Azolla pinnata oil and evaluate its technical and economic appropriateness for large-scale manufacturing. A pilot plant reactor with a 10 L biodiesel capacity carries out the transesterification reaction, using dolomite from industrial waste as a heterogeneous catalyst. The reaction was conducted for 4 h at a temperature of 70°C, and biodiesel yielded approximately 99.14%. Aspen Plus is employed to simulate and design a biodiesel plant, with the reaction kinetics derived from the pilot plant reaction and inputted into Aspen Plus. Plant optimization and economic analysis are performed using the Aspen Economic Analyzer. The biodiesel blends (Azolla 20, Azolla 40, and Azolla 60) were tested in a CI engine and compared with diesel results. Based on the engine test results, the Azolla 20 blend provides less HC (12.9%), CO (13.07%), and smoke (10%) emissions; therefore, it can serve as a better alternative to neat diesel. The primary units of the proposed plant have been designed, and the process’s economic viability was determined. It was discovered that the total capital investment needed is approximately 5.054 million USD, which will be repaid within 1.97 years of operation. This research encompasses pilot plant experiments, process simulation, engine testing, and economic analysis, demonstrating the novelty, technical feasibility, and potential socio-economic impact of this biodiesel production process.
Research highlights
Azolla pinnata non-edible oil utilized for biodiesel production
Industrial waste dolomite is a heterogeneous catalyst used for transesterification
The transesterification reaction is performed in a Pilot plant reactor
Optimization of the plant and economic analysis is performed using the Aspen economic analyzer
Performance and emission analysis of B20, B40 & B60 blends were compared with diesel fuel
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Nomenclature
| CaO | = | Calcium Oxide |
| CaCO3 | = | Calcium carbonate |
| MgO | = | Magnesium oxide |
| CO | = | Carbon Monoxide |
| CO2 | = | Carbon Dioxide |
| HC | = | Hydrocarbon |
| BSEC | = | Brake Specific Energy Consumption |
| BSFC | = | Brake Specific Fuel Consumption |
| BTE | = | Brake Thermal Efficiency |
| ASTM | = | American Standards for Testing Materials |
| XRD | = | X-Ray Diffraction |
| FTIR | = | Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy |
| DG | = | Diglyceride |
| Ea | = | Activation Energy |
| FAME | = | Fatty Acid Methyl Ester |
| FFA | = | Free Fatty Acid |
| H2SO4 | = | Sulfuric Acid |
| KOH | = | Potassium Hydroxide |
| k | = | Rate Constant |
| MG | = | Monoglyceride |
| NaOH | = | Sodium Hydroxide |
| NOx | = | Nitrogen Oxides |
| TG | = | Triglyceride |
| atm | = | Atmospheric pressure |
| € | = | Euro |
| ha | = | hectare |
| kg | = | Kilogram |
| L | = | Liter |
| $ | = | United States Dollar |
Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank SASTRA Deemed University for Aspen plus the facility to perform techno-economic analysis.
Disclosure statement
We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.
Authorship
We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all named authors.
Ethical responsibilities
I wish to state that all the authors mutually agree that it should be submitted to Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects.
I wish to state that the present work is the original work of the authors.
I wish to state that the manuscript was not previously submitted to Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Consent to publish
All authors agreed to publish their data prior in Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects and have not submitted the data in any form to any journal.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Rupesh KJ
Rupesh KJ graduated from SASTRA Deemed University with Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering. His research interest include bioenergy, biofuels and water treatment.
Madhan S
Madhan S completed Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering at SASTRA Deemed University. His research interest include biofuels and biopolymers.
Santhosh Prabu B
Santhosh Prabu B completed Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering at SASTRA Deemed University His research interest are in bioenergy.
Prabakaran S
Dr Prabakaran S I completed my first degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2013 at University College of Engineering Thirukkuvalai. This was followed by a master’s degree in Thermal Engineering at Anna University Regional Campus Tirunelveli 2016. I was accepted to the SASTRA Deemed University to study for a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in June 2018. I completed my PhD in December 2023 in the Experimental investigation on diesel engine characteristics using Azolla pinnata biodiesel blend produced with novel heterogeneous catalyst.
Arumugam A
Dr Arumugam A was awarded his Ph.D. from the Dept. of Chemical Engineering, SASTRA Deemed to be UNIVERSITY, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, in 2016. I am an M.Tech alumnus of the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, in Chemical engineering plant Design and pursued B.Tech in Chemical Engineering at Pondicherry Engineering College, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry. An esteemed author of journal articles, book chapters, with experience spanning nearly 17 years and encompassing renowned academic and research experience in bio-fuels and its relevant technological areas. The focus of his research interests involves the development application of innovative chemical-biological (green) methodologies to invent and modify technologies for energy development. Over the last few years, I worked extensively on synthesizing biodiesel from various non-edible feedstock and algal sources through various agricultural and industrial waste materials as a catalyst for the transesterification process.