6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

Utilization of Palm Wastes

for Biodiesel

2009. 11. 19

Jin-Suk Lee
Korea Institute of Energy Research

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

What is Biodiesel?
Vegetable oil

Biodiesel
Base Catalyst

Biodiesel is the important green diesel fuel from all vegetable oils

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

Bi di
Biodiesel
lO
Outlook
tl k
Korea

W ld
World

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

Edibel Feedstocks for Biodiesel?

Edible Feedstocks
(Rapeseed, Soybean and Others)
120

x 106 KL

100
80
60
40

Ethanol
Biodiesel

20
0
1970

1980

1990

Fuel

2000

2010

2020

Food

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

Palm Oil Wastes

Plantation Farms
Abandoned Palm Fruits due to High Free Fatty Acids (FFA)
From Oil Refining
CPO
Palm sludge oil
(PSO)

RBD
Palm
distillate

Characteristics of Palm Oil Wastes

Waste fats

FFA content, %

Waste Palm oil

> 10

Palm sludge oil

30~70

Palm distillate

> 90

Potential amount, ton/yr

1.5 x 106

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

Commercial Biodiesel Catalysts

Base catalyst
y

Acid catalyst
y

Feedstock

Refined oil

Waste fats
(high free fatty acid)

Reaction condition

< 100oC
< 5 atm

200-300oC
50-80 atm

Reaction
i
Time
i

< 0.5hr
h

> 4hr
h

Catalysts

NaOCH3, KOH, NaOH

H2SO4

R&D Issues on biodiesel from palm oil wastes

- How handle the high free fatty acids in palm oil waste?

- Waste generation including low grade glycerine with

homogeneo s catal
homogeneous
catalyst
st

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

General Scheme for Biodiesel

Production from Waste Fats
Triglycerides in Waste fats

Step 2

Alcohol
(Methanol/ Ethanol)

Transesterification
(Base Catalyst)

Biodiesel:
Fatty Acid (M)ethyl Esters
f om nat
from
natural
al origin
o igin

Step 1

Alcohol
Al
h l
(Methanol/ Ethanol)

Esterification
(Acid Catalyst)

F tt Acids
Fatty
A id in
i Waste
W t Fats
F t

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

MFS T
Technology
h l
b
by S
Solid
lid C
Catalyst
t l t

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

Performance of the Process

(Biodiesel purity)

BD Concen
B
ntration (%
%)

- High conversion is achieved in the process in all range of fatty acid content
in CPO even 100 % of fatty acid
- Final biodiesel concentration in product is expected over 98 %

99.8
99.6
99.4
99.2
99
98 8
98.8
98.6
98.4
98.2
98
97.8
2

10

20

30

50

100

150

Aci d val ue of V egetabl e oi l ( Feeds tock)

200

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

Durability of Catalyst
- Catalytic activity is maintained for a long period with high yield
- Conversion of 1st step reaction is reached about 95 %, while acid value is got
around 1 (Initial AV ; 4 15)

Conver s i on

Aci d Val ue

2. 5

90
80

70
1. 5

60
50

1
40
30

0. 5
1

9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65 67 69

P eriod (d
(d ay)

AcidValue

C onvers iion(%)

100

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

Summary
Like
ik the
h palm
l cellulosic
ll l i wastes for
f ethanol,
h
l utilization
ili
i
of palm oil wastes may be another important
component for Palm Refinery
An innovative biodiesel p
process for p
palm oil wastes
needs to be developed
The process employing solid catalyst is a promising
option

6th Biomass Asia Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, November 18-20, 2009

Thank you!
y