US EPA

1038202 

Journal Article 

Biorefinery approach for coconut oil valorisation: a statistical study 

Bouaid, A; Martínez, M; Aracil, J 

2010 

Yes 

Bioresource Technology
ISSN: 0960-8524
EISSN: 1873-2976 

101 

11 

4006-4012 

English 

20129777 

10.1016/j.biortech.2009.12.074 

WOS:000275999800030 

The biorefinery approach, consisting in transesterification using methanol and potassium hydroxide as catalyst, has been used to assess coconut oil valorisation. Due to the fatty acid composition of coconut oil, low (LMWME) and high (HMWME) molecular weight fatty acid methyl esters were obtained. Methyl laurate (78.30 wt.%) is the major component of the low molecular weight fraction. The influence of variables such as temperature and catalyst concentration on the production of both fractions has been studied and optimized by means of factorial design and response surface methodology (RSM). Two separate optimum conditions were found to be a catalyst concentration of 0.9% and 1% and an operation temperature of 42.5 degrees C and 57 degrees C for LMWME and HMWME, respectively, obtaining conversion rates of 77.54% and 25.41%. The valuable components of LMWME may be recovered for sale as biolubricants or biosolvents, the remaining fraction could be used as biodiesel, matching the corresponding European Standard. 

Biodiesel; Biorefinery; Biolubricants; Integrated process; Coconut oil