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ULTRAFILTRATION FOR SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION OF TRIGLYCERIDE TO BE USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF FATTY ACID METHYL/ETHYL ESTERS

Abstract

Diesel fuel is a very common fuel source for cars, planes, and generators. However, the diesel exhaust is harmful to the environment and presents health hazards. Biodiesel can be a practical solution to eliminate/minimize exhaust emissions, with the optimized production of biodiesel in a way that contaminants or impurities are non-existent in final products. The process for generating an optimal fatty acid methyl/ethyl ester (FAME/FAEE) product from waste oil requires initial separation of triglyceride molecules from a variety of other undesired ingredients commonly found in waste vegetable oil and purification of intermediate and final products in the manufacturing process. This can be achieved by membrane filtration processes. Ultrafiltration membranes with different pore sizes and materials were tested for the separation, including polymeric membranes (polyethersulfone and regenerated cellulose) and ceramic counterparts. The efficacy of the purification and the effects of membrane materials were evaluated in a pressure driven mode and were correlated to the performance under various filtration conditions. In addition, the quantitative analysis of biodiesel contaminant were conducted using the ASTM Standards to validate the quality of final product. Improved quality of final FAME/FAEE products and combustion exhaust is expected after transesterification combined with the filtration processes.

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