Snail Shells as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Biodiesel Fuel Production

Homogeneous catalysis is relevant for biodiesel fuel synthesis; however, it has the disadvantage of difficult separation of the catalyst. In the present work, heterogeneous catalysis was applied for rapeseed oil transesterification with methanol, while snail shells were used as a catalyst. CaO content in the catalyst was investigated. Transesterification reactions were carried out in a laboratory reactor, ester yield was analyzed using gas chromatography. Response surface methodology was used for process optimization. It was found that the optimum transesterification conditions when the reaction temperature is 64 °C are the following: a catalyst amount of 6.06 wt%, a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 7.51:1, and a reaction lasting 8 h. An ester yield of 98.15 wt% was obtained under these conditions

Effect of Lactic Acid Fermentation on Quinoa Characteristics and Quality of Quinoa-Wheat Composite Bread

The application of selected starter cultures with specific properties for fermentation may determine steady lactic acid bacteria (LAB) variety and the characteristics of fermented products that influence nutritional value, the composition of biologically active compounds and quality. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of different LAB on the biochemical characteristics of fermented quinoa. Moreover, total phenolic content (TPC), and the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of protein fractions isolated from quinoa previously fermented with LAB were investigated. Quinoa additives, including quinoa fermented with Lactobacillus brevis, were incorporated in a wheat bread recipe to make nutritionally fortified quinoa-wheat composite bread. The results confirmed that L. plantarum, L. brevis, and L. acidophilus were well adapted in quinoa medium, confirming its suitability for fermentation. LAB strains influenced the acidity, L/D-lactic acid content, enzyme activity, TPC and antioxidant activity of fermented quinoa. The maximum phytase activity was determined in quinoa fermented with L. brevis. The results obtained from the ABTS radical scavenging assay of protein fractions confirmed the influence of LAB strain on the antioxidant activity of protein fractions. The addition of 5 and 10% of quinoa fermented with L. brevis did not affect the total titratable acidity of wheat bread, while 10% of fermented quinoa with L. brevis resulted in a higher specific volume. Fermented quinoa additives increased the overall acceptability of bread compared with unfermented seed additives

Effectiveness of Eggshells as Natural Heterogeneous Catalysts for Transesterification of Rapeseed Oil with Methanol

Heterogeneous catalysis has an advantage of easy separation of the catalyst after biodiesel is produced. CaO is known to be an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. Taking into account that CaO is a key component of eggshells, the effectiveness of eggshells as a heterogeneous catalyst for rapeseed oil transesterification with methanol was investigated and optimal conditions of biodiesel production were determined applying RSM methodology. The influence of three independent variables on ester content was analyzed and a quadratic model was created. It was determined that this model is statistically significant. The optimum transesterification conditions when eggshells are used as a heterogeneous catalyst, and the process temperature of 64 °C, were determined as: the methanol-to-oil molar ratio 10.93:1; the catalyst amount 6.80 wt%; the reaction duration 9.48 h. The ester yield of 97.79 wt% was obtained under these conditions

Effectiveness of Eggshells as Natural Heterogeneous Catalysts for Transesterification of Rapeseed Oil with Methanol

Heterogeneous catalysis has an advantage of easy separation of the catalyst after biodiesel is produced. CaO is known to be an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. Taking into account that CaO is a key component of eggshells, the effectiveness of eggshells as a heterogeneous catalyst for rapeseed oil transesterification with methanol was investigated and optimal conditions of biodiesel production were determined applying RSM methodology. The influence of three independent variables on ester content was analyzed and a quadratic model was created. It was determined that this model is statistically significant. The optimum transesterification conditions when eggshells are used as a heterogeneous catalyst, and the process temperature of 64 °C, were determined as: the methanol-to-oil molar ratio 10.93:1; the catalyst amount 6.80 wt%; the reaction duration 9.48 h. The ester yield of 97.79 wt% was obtained under these conditions

Snail Shells as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Biodiesel Fuel Production

Homogeneous catalysis is relevant for biodiesel fuel synthesis; however, it has the disadvantage of difficult separation of the catalyst. In the present work, heterogeneous catalysis was applied for rapeseed oil transesterification with methanol, while snail shells were used as a catalyst. CaO content in the catalyst was investigated. Transesterification reactions were carried out in a laboratory reactor, ester yield was analyzed using gas chromatography. Response surface methodology was used for process optimization. It was found that the optimum transesterification conditions when the reaction temperature is 64 °C are the following: a catalyst amount of 6.06 wt%, a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 7.51:1, and a reaction lasting 8 h. An ester yield of 98.15 wt% was obtained under these conditions

Rapeseed Oil Transesterification Using 1-Butanol and Eggshell as a Catalyst

Biodiesel can be produced both in homogeneous and heterogeneous ways. Heterogeneous synthesis allows to easily separate catalyst from esters. In this work, eggshells as a heterogeneous catalyst were used for triglyceride transesterification with 1-butanol. Response surface methodology was used for process optimization. It was obtained that eggshells are a suitable catalyst for transesterification processes. A longer process duration and higher catalyst amount have a high influence on ester yield. However, the amount of 1-butanol should not be maximized. Optimum transesterification reaction conditions were obtained when the process temperature was 110 °C, 1-butanol-to-oil molar ratio 11.3:1, eggshells amount 7.41 wt%, and process duration 11.81 h. Under these conditions, 98.78 wt% of ester yield was obtained

Rapeseed Oil Transesterification Using 1-Butanol and Eggshell as a Catalyst

Biodiesel can be produced both in homogeneous and heterogeneous ways. Heterogeneous synthesis allows to easily separate catalyst from esters. In this work, eggshells as a heterogeneous catalyst were used for triglyceride transesterification with 1-butanol. Response surface methodology was used for process optimization. It was obtained that eggshells are a suitable catalyst for transesterification processes. A longer process duration and higher catalyst amount have a high influence on ester yield. However, the amount of 1-butanol should not be maximized. Optimum transesterification reaction conditions were obtained when the process temperature was 110 °C, 1-butanol-to-oil molar ratio 11.3:1, eggshells amount 7.41 wt%, and process duration 11.81 h. Under these conditions, 98.78 wt% of ester yield was obtained