Biodiesel Washing Water Treatment using Zeolite and Activated Carbon as Adsorbents

O. R. Obanla, D. E. Bababtunde, T. A. Ogunbiyi, T. E. Oladimeji, M. I. Ifepe

Biodiesel production was produced from the transesterification of palm oil and methanol using KOH catalyst. The process variables considered are  methanol to oil mole ratio of 4 – 6 and catalyst concentration of 0.2 – 1.0 wt/wt% Oil, at constant reaction temperature of 60℃ and constant reaction time of 60 minutes. Response surface plot showed that maximum yield of biodiesel (92 %) was obtained at 0.4 wt/wt% catalyst concentration and methanol/oil mole ratio of 7. The conventional activated carbon and zeolite produced were used separately as adsorbents in the treatment of biodiesel washing water. Comparatively, zeolite produced displayed better adsorption property compared to the conventional activated carbon in removing the six heavy metals considered from the biodiesel washing water. For instance, Chromium concentration of 0.0096 mg/L was reduced to 0.0023 mg/L after adsorption treatment with activated carbon (76 % efficiency), while the concentration was reduced to 0.0010 mg/L after the adsorption treatment with zeolite (89 % efficiency).