Abstract

Biodiesel is a proven alternative to the petroleum diesel fuel. During biodiesel production, glycerol is produced as a by-product. This by-product consist of impureties such as soap, salts, sodium catalyst and so on. Traditionally, two of the most conventional techniques that is applied to glycerol purification are distillation and ion-exchange. These techniques are, however, still expensive to generate pure glycerol. Recently, several alternative “combination” treatment procedures have been used. These treatment has several advantages over others methods such as producing large amounts of glycerol-rich layer that requires simple treatments and not causing any high operational cost. In this study, the combination treatment process have been used in order to reach high glycerol content. Basically, these stages starts with using microwave assisted acidification process and the next process utilizing a bioadsorbent synthesized from dead yeast cells immobilized on chitosan. The final yield of glycerol was about 93.1-94.2% (w/w).

Keywords:

Bioadsorbent, chitosan, glycerol, inactive yeast, microwave,

References

1. Aksu, Z., 2005. Application of biosorption for the removal of organic pollutants: A review. Process Biochem., 40: 997-1026.
   CrossRef    
2. Aksu, Z. and G. Dönmez, 2003. A comparative study on the biosorption characteristics of some yeasts for Remazol blue reactive dye. Chemosphere, 50: 1075-1083.
   CrossRef    
3. Asakuma, Y., Y. Ogawa, K. Maeda, K. Fukui and H. Kuramochi, 2011. Effects of microwave irradiation on triglyceride transesterification: Experimental and theoretical studies. Biochem. Eng. J., 58-59: 20-24.
   CrossRef    
4. Asher, D.R. and D.W. Simpson, 1956. Glycerol purification by ion exclusion. J. Phys. Chem., 60: 518-521.
   CrossRef    
5. Ayoub, M. and A.Z. Abdullah, 2012. Critical review on the current scenario and significance of crude glycerol resulting from biodiesel industry towards more sustainable renewable energy industry. Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev., 16: 2671-2686.
   CrossRef    
6. Azcan, N. and A. Danisman, 2008. Microwave assisted transesterification of rapeseed oil. Fuel, 87: 1781-1788.
   CrossRef    
7. Babel, S. and T.A. Kurniawan, 2003. Low-cost adsorbents for heavy metal uptake from contaminated water: A review. J. Hazard. Mater., 97(1-3): 219-243.
   CrossRef    
8. Chen, C. and J. Wang, 2008. Removal of Pb2+, Ag+, Cs+ and Sr2+ from aqueous solution by Brewery's waste biomass. J. Hazard. Mater., 151: 65-70.
   CrossRef    PMid:17604909    
9. Fan, X., R. Burton and G. Austic, 2009. Preparation and characteriza- tion of biodiesel produced from recycled canola oil. Open Fuel. Energ. Sci. J., 2: 113-118.
   CrossRef    
10. Farooq, U., J.A. Kozinski, M.A. Khan and M. Athar, 2010. Biosorption of heavy metal ions using wheat based biosorbents - A review of the recent literature. Biores. Technol., 101: 5043-5053.
    CrossRef    PMid:20223652    
11. Fazal, M.A., A.S.M.A. Haseeb and H.H. Masjuki, 2011. Biodiesel feasibility study: An evaluation of material compatibility; performance; emission and engine durability. Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev., 15: 1314-1324.
    CrossRef    
12. Hájek, M. and F. Skopal, 2010. Treatment of glycerol phase formed by biodiesel production. Biores. Technol., 101: 3242-3245.
    CrossRef    PMid:20074939    
13. Hansen, C.F., A. Hernandez, B.P. Mullan, K. Moore, M. Trezona-Murray, R.H. King and J.R. Pluske, 2009. A chemical analysis of samples of crude glycerol from the production of biodiesel in Australia and the effects of feeding crude glycerol to growing-finishing pigs on performance, plasma metabolites and meat quality at slaughter. Anim. Prod. Sci., 49(2): 154-161.
    CrossRef    
14. Hasan, S.H. and P. Srivastava, 2009. Batch and continuous biosorption of Cu by immobilized biomass. J. Environ. Manage., 90: 3313-3321.
    CrossRef    PMid:19487070    
15. Hazimah, A.H., T.L. Ooi and A. Salmiah, 2003. Recovery of glycerol and diglycerol from glycerol pitch. J. Oil Palm Res., 15(1): 1-5.
    
16. Hernando, J., P. Leton, M.P. Matia, J.L. Novella and J. Alvarez-Builla, 2007. Biodiesel and FAME synthesis assisted by microwaves: Homogeneous batch and flow processes. Fuel, 86(10-11): 1641-1644.
    CrossRef    
17. Ivanova, V., P. Petrova and J. Hristov, 2011. Application in the ethanol fermentation of immobilized yeast cells in matrix of alginate/magnetic nanoparticles, on chitosan-magnetite microparticles and cellulose-coated magnetic nanoparticles. Int. Rev. Chem. Eng., 3(2): 289-299.
    
18. Javani, A., M. Hasheminejad, K. Tahvildari and M. Tabatabaei, 2012. High quality potassium phosphate production through step-by-step glycerol purification: A strategy to economize biodiesel production. Biores. Technol., 104: 788-790.
    CrossRef    PMid:22029954    
19. Johnson, D.T. and K.A. Taconi, 2007. The glycerin glut: options for the value-added conversion of crude glycerol resulting from biodiesel production. Eng. Prog., 26: 338-346.
    CrossRef    
20. Kongjao, S., S. Damronglerd and M. Hunsom, 2010. Purification of crude glycerol derived from waste used-oil methyl ester plant. Korean J. Chem. Eng., 27(3): 944-949.
    CrossRef    
21. Luo, N., X. Fu, F. Cao, T. Xiao and P.P. Edwards, 2008. Glycerol aqueous phase reforming for hydrogen generation over Pt catalyst-effect of catalyst composition and reaction conditions. Fuel, 87: 3483-3489.
    CrossRef    
22. Manosak, R., S. Limpattayanate and M. Hunsom, 2011. Sequential-refining of crude glycerol derived from waste used-oil methyl ester plant via a combined process of chemical and adsorption. Fuel Process. Technol., 92: 92-99.
    CrossRef    
23. Ooi, T.L., K.C. Yong, K. Dzulkefly, W.M.Z. Wan Yunus and A.H. Hazimah, 2001. Crude glycerine recovery from glycerol residue waste from a palm kernel oil methyl ester plants. J. Oil Palm Res., 13(2): 16-22.
    
24. Ozcan, A.S., B. Erdem and A. Ozcan, 2004. Adsorption of Acid Blue 193 from aqueous solutions onto Na-bentonite and DTMA-bentonite. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 280(1): 44-54.
    CrossRef    PMid:15476772    
25. Pachauri, N. and B. He, 2006. Value-added utilization of crude glycerol from biodiesel production: A survey of current research activities. Proceeding of the ASABE Annual International Meeting. Portland, Oregon, July 9-12.
    
26. Pinto, L.F., P.M. Ndiaye, L.P. Ramos and M.L. Corazza, 2011. Phase equilibrium data of the system CO2 + Glycerol + Methanol at high pressures. J. Supercrit. Fluid., 59: 1-7.
    CrossRef    
27. Posada, J.A. and C.A. Cardona, 2010. Design and analysis of fuel ethanol production from raw glycerol. Energy, 35: 5286-5293.
    CrossRef    
28. Rai, A.K., S.N. Upadhyay, S. Kumar and Y.D. Upadhyay, 1998. Heavy metal pollution and its control through a cheaper method: A review. J. IAEM, 25: 22-51.
    
29. Rumbold, K., H.J. van Buijsen, K.M. Overkamp, J.W. van Groenstijn, P.J. Punt and M.J. van der Werf, 2009. Microbial production host selection for converting second-generation feedstocks into bioproducts. Microb. Cell Fact, 8: 64.
    CrossRef    PMid:19958560 PMCid:PMC2795742    
30. Saifuddin, N. and K.H. Chua, 2004. Production of ethyl ester (biodiesel) from used frying oil: Optimization of transesterification process using microwave irradiation. Malays. J. Chem., 6: 77-82.
    
31. Saifuddin, N., L. Wei Zhan and K. Xin Ning, 2011. Heat-modeling of microwave assisted epoxidation of palm acid oil. Am. J. Appl. Sci., 8(3): 217-229.
    CrossRef    
32. Shu, X.Z. and K.J. Zhu, 2001. Chitosan/gelatin microsphere prepared by modified emulsification and ionotropic gelation. J. Microencapsul., 18: 237-245.
    CrossRef    PMid:11253940    
33. Singhabhandhu, A. and T. Tezuka, 2010. A perspective on incorporation of glycerin purification process in biodiesel plants using waste cooking oil as feedstock. Energy, 35: 2493-2504.
    CrossRef    
34. Slinn, M., K. Kendall, C. Mallon and J. Andrews, 2008. Steam reforming of biodiesel by-product to make renewable hydrogen. Biores. Technol., 99: 5851-5858.
    CrossRef    PMid:18032034    
35. Suppes, G.J., 2006. Biobased propylene glycol and monomers from natural glycerine. EPA. (Accessed on: March 23, 2012).
    Direct Link
36. Valliyappan, T., T.T. Bakhshi and A.K. Dalai, 2008. Pyrolysis of glycerol for the production of hydrogen or syn gas. Biores. Technol., 99: 4476-4483.
    CrossRef    PMid:17951053    
37. Vijayaraghavan, K. and Y.S. Yun, 2008. Bacterial biosorbents and biosorption. Biotechnol. Adv., 26: 266-291.
    CrossRef    PMid:18353595    
38. Wan Ngah, W.S., C.S. Endud and R. Mayanar, 2002. Removal of copper(II) ions from aqueous solution onto chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads. React. Funct. Polym., 50: 181-190.
    CrossRef    
39. Wang, J. and C. Chen, 2009. Biosorbents for heavy metals removal and their future. Biotechnol. Adv., 27: 195-226.
    CrossRef    PMid:19103274    
40. Wang, J.L. and C. Chen, 2006. Biosorption of heavy metal by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A review. Biotechnol. Adv., 24: 427-451.
    CrossRef    PMid:16737792    
41. Wang, Z.M., J.S. Lee, J.Y. Park, C.Z. Wu and Z.H. Yuan, 2008. Optimization of biodiesel production from trap grease via acid catalysis. Korean J. Chem. Eng., 25(4): 670-674.
    CrossRef    
42. Wilson, E.K., 2002. Biodiesel revs up: Fuel made from vegetable oil leads the pack of alternatives to petroleum products. Chem. Eng. News, 80: 46-49.
    CrossRef    
43. Yadav, G.D. and P. Lathi, 2007. Microwave assisted enzyme catalysis for synthesis of n-butyl dipheyl methyl mercapto acetate in non-aqueous media. Clean Technol. Environ. Policy, 9: 281-287.
    CrossRef    
44. Zhou, L.C., Y.F. Li and X. Bai, 2009. Use of microorganisms immobilized on composite polyurethane foam to remove Cu (II) from aqueous solution. J. Hazard. Mater, 162: 1081-1086.
    CrossRef    

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

Open Access Policy

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

Copyright

The authors have no competing interests.