Transesterification of Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil (RBD PO) Using Homogeneous Base Catalyst and Methanol and Investigation of Factors Filter Blocking Issue in Palm Based Biodiesel

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the major properties of biodiesel causing filter-blocking issue in biodiesel especially for palm oil based, to identify the suitable solution to reduce or eliminate these factors for improving the filter properties of the palm based biodiesel by control the specific parameter (mono-glycerides during intermediate process and minimize or eliminate the Steryl Glycoside after post treatment. This study may give significant impact especially to local industry of biodiesel producer which operated with normal transesterification process and using palm base feedstock to conform international biodiesel specification such as ASTM D D7501 (Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels). In this paper the Filter Blocking Tendency (FBT) testing and Cold Soak Filterability Test (CSFT) testing procedure and result will be presented.