Conversion of Bio-oil to Biodiesel through Reactive Distillation Approach

Anticipated future energy shortage and environmental concerns have boosted researches on alternatives for renewable resource such as biodiesel. Biodiesel or known as fatty acid methyl ester (FAMEs) is produced from esterification process. This project will focus on esterification process between bio-oil and high boiling alcohol which is n-butanol. This project starts with synthesis of bio-oil based on empty fruit bunches (EFB) bio-oil composition. Then, the esterification process between artificial bio-oil and n-butanol is run and tested for physical properties such as density, viscosity, pH and water content. The product of esterification process is analyzed by gas chromatography to check the actual composition as well as to verify the production of biodiesel. The result shows the existence of butyl ester which is biodiesel in end product. However, the physical properties of the product must be improved in term of acidity, and water content.