Extraction and Use of Potassium Hydroxide from Ripe Plantain Peels Ash for Biodiesel Production
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American Scientific Publishers
Abstract
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The extraction of the ash of ripe plantain peels to obtain potassium hydroxide (KOH) and its application
in the trans-esterification of refined rapeseed and crude jatropha oils have been investigated.
At 30 �C, extraction time 1 hr and volume of 5, 7.5 and 10 ml/g ash, the percentage recovery of
KOH progressively increased in the first stage, from 26.05 to 26.20 and then to 30.75% respectively,
but decreased in the second stage (extraction of the spent ash from stage 1), from 2.20 to
2.10 and to 1.90% respectively. Same trend was also observed at 40 and 50 �C but cumulatively,
KOH values recovered increased relatively with increasing extraction time and temperature. The
percentage cumulative recovery of KOH was 40.10% at extracting temperature of 50 �C, extracting
volumes 10 ml/g ash and extraction time of 3 hrs while it was 40.00% at 50 �C, 10 ml/g ash and
2 hrs extraction time. The least percentage cumulative recovery of KOH was 28.25% at 30 �C with
5 ml extracting volume/g ash and 1 hr extraction time. The percentage purity of the extracted KOH
gave 80.0%. The trans-esterification of the two vegetable oils showed the percentage conversion
obtained with rapeseed oil was 71.01% using 1 g of KOH extract from ripe plantain peels ash at
reaction temperature and time of 75 �C and 4 hours respectively. Under the same reaction conditions,
1 g of commercial caustic potash recorded 70.06% conversion of the rapeseed oil. From the
optimized batch process, 97.15% conversion was achieved with crude jatropha oil using 1 g caustic
potash extract from ripe plantain peels ash; at reaction temperature and time of 83 �C and 4 hours
respectively.
Keywords
T Technology (General), TP Chemical technology