Biodiesel Investigation Essay

Biodiesel is a blanched zealous renewable fuel make employ natural veg covers and fats.1 Biodiesel is a manifestation to chemists, engineers and environmentalists who atomic number 18 looking for more sustainable ways to regale expenditure of fuels. Since it is a natural and renewable fuel, it evictnister be proceedted in as a backup for crude crude oil diesel, which is the centre of attention conventionally utilise in automobile transport.Biodiesel is normally utilize as a re trustment for crude oil diesel fuel or fucking be blended together with oil diesel fuel in either ratio. Biodiesel is a biodegradable nubble with a lower toxicity in proportion to petroleum diesel fuel and is preferent as it is safer to handle since there is little human risk snarled in its handling. The use of biodiesel as a petroleum substitute reduces the degree of exhaust emission. Biodiesel ar notorious for their easy use in terms of how they can easily be pumped and stored in existing engines with extinct having to make major industrial alterations to the engines themselves. They are usually blended together with petroleum fuels in order to create the optimal exercise in engines.The tabuput sacrifice of biodiesel is I had never really heard of biodiesel until it was a topic covered in school. subsequently finding out what biodiesel was, I looked into the IB chemis try on syllabus to see what points it had on biodiesel and looked pass on into the applications of biodiesel as well as the litigate of transesterification and what is involved. My personal interest was sparked from my curiosity of how to mystify my own sample of biodiesel later on I found out about its many a(prenominal) uses.My broad(prenominal) school chemistry incision provided us with a set of materials and suffered us to investigate our own ways of obtaining biodiesels and I was keen to see what I could do with a sample of this versatile join. I do feel as though this is an important look into to engage in as scientists find biodiesels an passing usable substance to use in machines and such(prenominal). To try an try which involves looking at factors that can change the getup of the product, would be a stepping st superstar to building a stronger rationality on the substance itself and how more of it can be obtained and perhaps what benefits it may serve.The experiment conducted was intent on looking at a certain independent in constant (the c erstntration) that would affect the assume of biodiesel produced in experiment. The research question for this is How the concentration of Potassium hydrated oxide resoluteness would affect the kick in of biodiesel when transesterified with a amount sample of veg oil. earthTo look at the scientific boldness of it, biodiesels are a form of methyl radical esters, an radical chain compound that has a set of properties. The experiment involves the reply in the midst of vegetable oil and potass ium hydrated oxide and wood spirit mixed together. The equation for the reaction of the transesterification isVegetable Oil (l) + (3)HOCH3 + (NaOH atom smasher) C3H8O3 + 3-methyl ester1 Biodiesel bedrockThis valuable renewable fuel imagination is not vegetable oil, but or else formed from the organic chain compound. It is 3-methyl ester and has the followers chemical substance structureFig. 1The draw on the left shows the transesterification extremity that forms devil products (Glycerol and A 3-methyl ester). The experiment conducted involves potassium hydroxide as a catalyst instead of sodium hydroxide. Furthermore the biodiesel product of this varies from the early(a) structured methyl ester that usually lessen in The other product is glycerine, which is usually found in soaps. This is a standard example of transesterification however the experiment that is act involves tellable reactants. The diagram below shows the regale for this experiment and the way outs .The temperature of the oil mixed with the methyl alcohol confection go forth be metric and the experiment consists of five different solvents of KOH + methanol that leave al superstar severally be reacted with the vegetable oil. A magnetized scaremonger will be utilize in the process to get the reaction going and later on the finalised solution will be situated in a centrifugal and the process of centrifugation will assure the solution into glycerine and biodiesel. The biodiesel will then be duplicationcted to concede a reading on fate yield.The method was personally derived and many modifications were made to the sign standard procedure of assortment 50% concentration Potassium hydroxide solutions with 10ml of vegetable oil and soul-stirring on a magnetized stirrer for 10-15 transactions at a certain temperature was deemed to serious for students as the high concentration blistery was extremely corrosive, had irritating effects and also raised environmental concerns as the organic waste disposal process was farther more complicated when the substances would permeate a trash landfill.As a go forth the new method was made and the substances involved were altered significantly. The new method consists of a reaction with a 5g/ deoxycytidine monophosphateml (KOH concentrated) mixture amid potassium hydroxide and methanol. In distributively raise, there is a varied use in the concentration of the methanol mixture and this is standardd by an arbitrary per centum figure as well as a known doubt. Furthermore, the potassium hydroxide serves as a catalyst for the reaction.Equipment utilize implement hesitancy10cm3 Measuring piston chamber0.2mlMass Balance0.005g50cm3 Beaker5ml attractive featureic scaremongerN/AThermometer0.5cMagnet CapsuleN/A method1. To set up the equipment appropriately, use a 10cm3 Measuring Cylinder to measure out 10ml of vegetable oil, and keep aside separately. prize 1.5ml of the 5g/100ml (1%) Potassium Hydroxid e solution and correct set aside in the standard cylinder. Set up the magnetised stirrer, and measure the temperature of the oil using the thermometer. For this experiment, the oil (placed inner(a) beaker) will need to be un dispirited on the magnetic stirrer with the condensing inserted and alter to 31c. Measure the host of the empty beaker first using the destinyes balance and say.1. erstwhile the oil has been heated to the appropriate temperature, add the methanol-KOH solution with 1% concentration to the oil and allow the stirrer to stir at a constant temperature for approximately ten to fifteen minutes. after a few minutes of stirring and any visible physical/chemical changes use up occurred, remove the beaker of mixture from the solution and set aside temporarily.1. The methyl-ester biodiesel mixture is crap for centrifugation. Using the fortune balance, measure out the big money of the beaker with the oil mixture that has practiced undergone transesterificat ion and pour all the substance from the beaker into a centrifugal tube.1. Repeat all the tests with the 2%,3%,4% and 5% concentration KOH mixtures in methanol. When repeating, come back to measure from from each one one separate beakers undivided mass and use the stirrer to run the temperature back up to 31. Once the temperature has hit 31, mix the KOH with the oil as done to begin with and allow the stirrer to create a reaction between the substances. Keep making qualitative observations and recording changes in temperature from the reaction and record the mass of the final solutions once stirring.1. Finally, once all the products discombobulate been reacted, place them in centrifugal tubes and insert the tubes into the centrifuge. The centrifugation process will separate the biodiesel and glycerol. Extract the thin biodiesel social class (on top), measure the mass of the biodiesel in the sign beaker and derive the function yield of biodiesel from the mass difference betw een the solutions, immersion from mass and volume and make observations on the mass obtained.Diagram of Process Done On SkitchVariablesSafety And Environmental MeasuresPlenty of glass take form will be utilised end-to-end the experiment, and be pass water it is essential that safety furnish are worn as extra precaution to protect eyes from broken glass. Furthermore, all glassware should be unbroken away from the edges of tables to prevent risk of damage.KOH methanol mixture is labeled as an sticker and mildlyIndependent Variable immersion of KOH wood alcohol Mixture as % prise. resolute Variables* Temperature of Oil* majority of Oil use* Volume of KOH wood spirit Mixture open Variable% Yield of Biodiesel, Mass outcome of biodiesel from transesterificationcorrosive based on *Cleaps Hazcards and it is thence aware to wear gloves. It is also advised to wear lab coats as products of transesterification may permanently stain clothing.Fortunately, there are no ethical conc erns involved as unless vegetable oil is world used and no animal substances. The biodiesel substance is biodegradable and can be easily disposed of in organic waste.*Cleaps cited in Biblio representyQualitative Observations* In all tests after the oil was placed into the centrifuge, a gunky substance was formed from the separation into two stratums, one being the biodiesel and it can be delusive that the gunky substance was glycerol (used in soaps).At times the position of the magnetic stirrer was not in place for rough numbers, which may be a expiration of hit-or-miss misplay (anomaError Calculations on MassExample % Yield Calculations of Biodiesel1% ConcentrationExample Calculation(0.052 1.000) x 100% + (0.2 10) x 100 + (0.2 1.5) x 100 + (0.005 5.962) x 100= 5% + 2% + 10% + 0.08%= 17.08% suspense 17%Absolute suspicion for 1% Concentration yield5.95g 20% (1sf)1% Concentration SolutionMass of biodiesel Extracted=5.952 (0.005)g come mass of oil Mixture (Products from transesterification reaction)100 x (5.952 33.119) (0.1 *100)Approx 18% Yield (0.3%)* lies) in sequels such as the 2% concentration.* The temperature of the magnetic stirrer would be set high than 31, and many of the substances would exceed or be under the temperature of 31 before the real reaction began.* The volume of the oil and KOH mixture used in the endorse test may not have been the same amount as the first, which would cause an illusion in the component yield of biodiesels. information Processing2% Conc. 3% + 2% + 10% + 0.08% = 15.08% 4.99g 20%3% Conc. 2% + 2% + 10% + 0.08% = 14.08% 6.84g 10%4% Conc. 1% + 2% + 10% + 0.08% = 13.08% 7.81g 10%5% Conc. 1% + 2% + 10% + 0.08% = 13.08% 7.97g 10%Processed Data TableMass of Biodiesel (2DP)Total Uncertainty on Mass% Yield of Biodiesel+ Uncertainty-2sfVolume of Biodiesel Layer + UncertaintyDensity of BiodieselUncertainty on DensityConclusion ten-fold inferences can be made from the selective information obtained. Firstly the clean burning renewable fuel has been formed from a derived method, in which a transesterification reaction has occurred between Methanol and Vegetable oil (using potassium hydroxide as a catalyst). It was expected that the emergence in concentration of the KOH would cause a greater ploughshare and mass yield of biodiesel. Fortunately this expectation was met with the outlets provided, although there were a few condition anomalies formed from the authoritative illusions present, it was limpid that the experiment did match the initial hypothesis of an outgrowth in biodiesel yield.Although the purpose states than an increase in concentration of the KOH Methanol substance would increase the yield of biodiesel in the product of transesterification, it must be unsounded that there were many imprecisions and boundaries for error were relatively high throughout the experiment. The primary spring for this is that only one test was conducted for each concentration, rather th an gather an sightly for each results, which was a result of time care problems.Despite the causes of error and uncertainties, the calculated average density of biodiesel produced was 1.23gcm-3. The literature value for this was given above (0.88) and this value has been taken from an experiment in which the yield of biodiesel was taken from vegetable oils using both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide as the catalyst in the experiment. The experimental error for the density was extremely high, being around 40%.The general formula for calculating organized error in experiments is as suchExperimental error = (Literature Value work out Value) (Literature Value) x 100 The experimental error is actually the sum of the imperious and random error, (error which could influence one single result), and therefore varies for each result obtained. However the graph for the density shows the rising increase. Although a clean line of trump fit cannot be placed upon the graph, it is clear that there is a steady rise in the turnout of biodiesel against the increase in initial concentration. It is evident that there was a random error for the 2% concentration with the mass output measured.This may have been a result of some of the substance spilling onto the stirrer during one of the measurements, when equipment was not handled appropriately. Since this only affected a single result, it was omitted from the graph, and the line of best fit was not inclusive of this result. Despite this, the error bar uncertainties are relatively high for the mass output, and therefore the min and ooze sides vary highly, which means any value for output within this range would be regarded a systematic error in the experiment.In the density graph, the curve of best fit is exponential, and does not include the result obtained for 3% concentration, as this also appears to be slightly anomalous. It could also be regarded a random error as the gradient of the curve does not fit into t he boundaries of uncertainty for this result. Reasons for this uncertainty could be a result of any of the limitations explored in the evaluation. Finally the percentage yield graph also has moderately of a linear relationship between the output of biodiesel as a percentage of the match substance and the concentration increase together.The diagram (figure 4) shows a successful gathering of biodiesel, in which the top spirit level represents the biodiesel and the after part layer the glycerol. There were other different physical appearances for other results (not photographed).Evaluation terminal pointSignificancePossible ImprovementsUnknown layer between biodiesel and glycerol (Fig. x)It was difficult to distinguish whether this layer between the biodiesel and glycerol, (as photographically represent above), could be counted as biodiesel and therefore it was any left out or in the quantity process, which would contribute to a systematic error of the yield of biodiesel being similarly high or low.To improve on this and reduce this uncertainty, a combustion test would need to be done on the biodiesel, as it is known to be flammable. The noncitizen substance should be tested with a flame test and if it burns, should be include in the yield measurements of biodiesel.Using Apparatus with a lower uncertainty for measuring out KOH methanol substanceThe 10ml measuring cylinder used had an uncertainty of 0.2, which for 1.5cm3 of solution, was extremely high as a percentage uncertainty. Since this was used for all tests, it must be noted that this was also a lend factor to the systematic error obtained for each test.To improve this, a different (more precise) chip of measuring apparatus, i.e a burette shouldve been used as it has an uncertainty of 0.05, which wouldve quartered the uncertainty on the potassium hydroxide mixture, and reduced the total uncertainty.Improper placement of beaker on magnetic stirrerDue to time limitations for conducting the experime nt, aggregatex groups had to share the stirrer and therefore place two beakers with magnetic fleas (capsules) atop the stirrer. This interfered with the ability for the maximum biodiesel output to be produced for each result, and since this only occurred for certain tests, wouldve contributed to any random errors present.To target this limitation, the best solution would be to find time to work on the experiment individually, so that the magnetic stirrer could be used for only one beaker.Impurity on biodieselThe substance measured may not be entirely biodiesel, but instead a mixture of biodiesel and glycerol that may have been extracted without notice. This wouldve caused a higher percentage yield of biodiesel to be measured rather than the actual amount.To add on to this limitation, the reason for an scoria would most probably be from a difficulty in distinguishing between the biodiesel and layer of glycerol.Any filtration process that could separate the biodiesel and the glycer ol effectively, would be appropriate.The mixture should undergo centrifugation multiple times in order to separate the layers more clearly.Works CitedBiodiesel basic principle Biodiesel.org. Biodiesel Basics Biodiesel.org. Biodiesel Org, n.d. Web. 11 May 2015.Button, Scott. Biodiesel Vehicle dismiss From Vegetable Oil. Energy & Environment 21.8 (2009) 1305-324. Web.Jamil, attenuate Aisya Z., and (Ijera). Performance of KOH as a gas for Trans-esterification of Jatropha Curcas Oil (2012) n. pag. 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 13 May 2015. secondary coil Science Hazcards. Secondary Science Hazcards. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2015.ImagesThe chemistry of Biodiesel Biodiesel Project Goshen College. Academics. Goshen College, n.d. Web. 13 May 2015. solely other images were personally taken and diagrams constructed using Skitch.