Utilization of Bagasse based Activated Carbon as Catalyst for Production of Glycerol-aceticacid esters and their Application for Diesel blends

Muhammad Abdullahi Sokoto; Ahmad Bilyaminu Rafi; Liman Muhammad Gidado; Alhassan Yahaya; Muhammad Chika; Umar Jamilu Ibrahim

Authors

Muhammad Abdullahi Sokoto Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto-Nigeria
Ahmad Bilyaminu Rafi Department of X-Ray, Sultan Abdulrahaman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa Sokoto-Nigeria
Liman Muhammad Gidado Department of Chemistry, Federal University, Gusau Zamfara State Nigeria
Alhassan Yahaya Department of Chemistry, Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto Nigeria
Muhammad Chika Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto-Nigeria
Umar Jamilu Ibrahim Department of Chemistry, Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto Nigeria

Keywords:

Glycerol, Petro-diesel, Acetic acid, Acetin, Sugarcane bagasse, RSM, ASTM

Abstract

The increasing agitations for alternative fuels especially transportation fuel creates large surplus of glycerol from biodiesel production. In view of this, the current work investigates the conversion of glycerol into petro-diesel fuel blend. The glycerol was esterified using acetic acid over activated carbon derived from sugarcane bagasse as catalyst to produce acetins. The carbon was prepared from bagasse through controlled pyrolysis and activated with sulphuric acid. The generated activated carbon was characterized using FT-IR. The acetins (glycerol esters) were produced via acetylation of glycerol with acetic acid under reflux at different reaction conditions and characterized using FT-IR and GC-MS. Optimization of process parameters for acetylation of glycerol was determined by Response surface based on Box-Beinkhen design. The optimum yield of acetin (80.60%) was achieved at the temperature, catalyst dose, time and glycerol to acetic acid ratio of 110° C, 2.5%wt, 3 hours and 1:4.5 respectively. The physicochemical properties of petrol-diesel and its blends with the produced acetins were analyzed using ASTM methods. Parameters like kinematic viscosity, cloud point, pour point and cetane number of petro-diesel and its blends were in conformity with the ASTM specifications for diesel fuel. The produced glycerol-acetic ester significantly improve the kinematic viscosity, cold flow properties and cetane number of petro-diesel fuel.