UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science
Choi Yu Hui, Dr. Steven Lim

EFFECT OF PRETREATMENT ON SYNTHESIS OF OIL PALM FROND

DERIVED CATALYST FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES
Biodiesel has emerged as an alternative fuel for diesel engine due to its  To investigate the effect of
environmental properties. Recently, the implementation of biomass as carbon carbonisation temperature,
precursor to produce heterogeneous catalyst has gained attention to lower the impregnation ratio and temperature on
biodiesel production cost. In this research, the oil palm frond (OPF) derived catalyst performance towards
catalyst was synthesised to catalyse the esterification reaction using palm fatty biodiesel production.
acid distillate (PFAD).  To characterise the physical and
PROBLEM STATEMENT chemical properties of catalyst using
 High feedstock cost for biodiesel production scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
and Fourier Transform Infrafred
 No ideal catalyst to improve biodiesel yield and conversion and lower the Figure 1: Oil Palm
Spectroscopy (FTIR).
production cost simultaneously Frond

METHODOLOGY

Figure 2: Impregnation Figure 3: Carbonisation Figure 4: Sulfonation Figure 5: Esterification

50g of OPF was mixed with potassium Esterification reaction was
Sample was carbonized in the 5g of activated carbon was
hydroxide solution at impregnation ratio of conducted using PFAD at 100ºC
furnace at 400ºC, 600ºC and mixed with concentrated
1:0.5, 1:1 and 1:1.5 and impregnation for 6h with 10wt% catalyst
800ºC for 1h sulfuric acid at 180ºC for 6h
temperature of 50ºC, 70ºC and 90ºC overnight. loading.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
SEM Analysis
 Raw OPF: Effect of Carbonisation Temperature
Lignocellulosic
At 600ºC: Volatile matter escaped from
structure, smooth
and flat surface the pore, resulting in high porosity
More SO3H groups attached on the
Figure 6: SEM image of raw OPF surface and provide higher accessibility
 Sulfonated Catalyst: of methanol to FFA molecules during
Sulfonic acid groups esterification
attached on the
micropores
Figure 9: Effect of Carbonisation Temperature
Figure 7: SEM image of catalyst

FTIR Analysis

Figure 10: Effect of Impregnation Ratio Figure 11: Effect of Impregnation Temperature
Effect of Impregnation Ratio Effect of Impregnation Temperature
As ratio was increased, there was At 90ºC, the OPF power particles collide with
Figure 8: FTIR Analysis the potassium more vigorously, a well
collapsing of larger pores and
 A sharp peak around wavelength of 1236cm-1 dispersion of potassium on the surface of OPF
development of smaller micropores
indicated the presence of sulfonic group. particles resulted in better pore development.
began.
CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES
Oil Palm frond is an effective biomass to synthesise low cost heterogeneous  Yang, L., Zhang, A. and Zheng, X., 2009. Shrimp Shell Catalyst
catalyst for biodiesel production. A highest biodiesel yield and conversion at for Biodiesel Production. Energy & Fuels, 23(8), pp.3859-3865.
92.27% and 95.53% could be achieved. The optimum carbonization  Avhcatalytic materials for biodiesel productionad, M. and
temperature, impregnation ratio and temperature were 600ºC 1:1.5 and Marchetti, J., 2015. A review on recent advancement
90ºC, respectively. in. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 50, pp.696-718.