Investigation of Waste Cooking Oil processing using HAAS automated reactors system

Róża Tomikowska; Rafał Tomikowski; Krzysztof Łapiński; Szymon Goderski; Maciej Kopiński; Marcin Siedlecki; Marek Ochowiak; Krystian Czernek

doi:10.2478/pjct-2025-0007

.blurhash-client-img { display: none !important; }

Investigation of Waste Cooking Oil processing using HAAS automated reactors system

Green Sciences

Volume 27 (2025): Issue 2 (June 2025)

By: Róża Tomikowska, Rafał Tomikowski, Krzysztof Łapiński, Szymon Goderski, Maciej Kopiński, Marcin Siedlecki, Marek Ochowiak and Krystian Czernek

Open Access

|Jul 2025

Abstract

The processing of waste cooking oils (WCO) is a complex process that heavily depends on their chemical and physical properties. The work described in this article includes research on the processing of WCO samples using transesterification methods. An automated reactor system Matrix9 HAAS was used to perform process studies and FT-IR measurements.

Transesterification of oils in the presence of KOH might be directly applied as the optimal one for oils with a low acid number, while for oils with a higher acid number an additional esterification step is advisable in the presence of an acid catalyst or under conditions of high temperature and pressure.

References

Harpers, N., Wen, M., Miller, P., Hangx, S. & Busch, A. (2023). The Harpers THMC flow bench: A triaxial multi-reactor setup for the investigation of long-term coupled thermo-hydro--mechanical-chemical fluid-rock interaction. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 94, 095112. DOI: 10.1063/5.0160906.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Westphal, H., Schmidt, S., Lama, S., Polack, M., Weise, C., Oestereich, T., Warias, R., Gulder, T. & Belder, D. (2024). Development of an automated platform for monitoring micro-fluidic reactors through multi-reactor integration and online (chip-)LC/MS-detection. React. Chem. Eng. 9, 1739. DOI: 10.1039/d4re00004h.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Allwardt, A., Holzmüller-Laue, S., Wendler, C. & Stoll, N. (2008). A high parallel reaction system for efficient catalyst research. Catal. Today 137(1), 11–16. DOI: 10.1016/j. cattod.2008.03.012.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Li, Q., Gong, S., Yan, J., Hu, H., Shu, X., Tong, H., Cai, Z. (2020). Synthesis and Kinetics of Hydrogenated Rosin Dodecyl Ester as an Environmentally Friendly Plasticizer. J. Renew. Mater. 8(3), 289–299. DOI: 10.32604/jrm.2020.08897.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kalmykova, Y., Sadagopan, M. & Rosado, L. (2018). Circular economy – From review of theories and practices to development of implementation tools. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 135, 190–20. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.10.034.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Zhang, Y. (2003). Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil: 1. Process design and technological assessment. Bioresour. Technol. 89(1), 1–16. DOI:10.1016/s0960-8524(03)00040-3.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kerr, R.A. (1998). The Next Oil Crisis Looms Large--and Perhaps Close. Science 281(5380), 1128–1131. DOI: 10.1126/science.281.5380.1128.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wang, Y., Pengzhan, L.S.O. & Zhang, Z. (2007). Preparation of biodiesel from waste cooking oil via two-step catalyzed process. Energ. Convers. Manage. 48(1), 184–188. DOI:10.1016/j. enconman.2006.04.016.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Liu, C., Provatas, A.A. & Parnas, R.S. (2023). Desulfurization of biodiesel produced from waste fats, oils and grease using β-cyclodextrin. Sep. Purif. Technol. 305, 122417. DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122417.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fadhil, A.B. & Mohammed, H.M. (2018). Co-solvent transesterification of bitter almond oil into biodiesel: optimization of variables and characterization of biodiesel. Transport 33(3), 686-698. DOI: 10.3846/16484142.2018.1457568.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Al-Tikrity, E.T.B., Fadhil, A.B. & Ibraheem, K.K. (2017). Biodiesel production from bitter almond oil as new non-edible oil feedstock. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects 39(7), 649–656, DOI: 10.1080/15567036.2016.1243172.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Altikriti, E.T., Fadhil, A.B. & Dheyab, M.M. (2015). Two-step Base Catalyzed Transesterification of Chicken Fat: Optimization of Parameters, Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects 37(17), 1861–1866, DOI: 10.1080/15567036.2012.654442.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Arjun, B., Chhetri, K., Watts, Ch. & Islam, M.R. (2008). Waste Cooking Oil as an Alternate Feedstock for Biodiesel Production. Energies 1(1), 3–18. DOI: 10.3390/en1010003.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Moazeni, F., Chen, Y.C. & Zhang, G. (2019). Enzymatic transesterification for biodiesel production from used cooking oil, a review. J. Clean. Prod. 216, 117–128. DOI: 10.1016/j. jclepro.2019.01.181.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Šabeder, S., Habulin, M. & Knez, Ž. (2006). Lipasecatalyzed synthesis of fatty acid fructose esters. J. Food Eng. 77(4), 880–886. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2005.08.016.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Brahma, S., Nath, B., Basumatary, B., Das, B., Saikia, P., Patir, K. & Basumatary, S. (2022). Biodiesel production from mixed oils: A sustainable approach towards industrial biofuel production. Chem. Eng. J. Adv. 10, 100284. DOI: 10.1016/j. ceja.2022.100284.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Santori, G., Di Nicola, G., Moglie, M. & Polonara, F. (2012). A review analyzing the industrial biodiesel production practice starting from vegetable oil refining. Appl. Energy 92, 109–132. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.10.031.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Christopher, L.P., Kumar, H. & Zambare, V.P. (2014). Enzymatic biodiesel: Challenges and opportunities. Appl. Energy 119, 497–520. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.01.017.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Budžaki, S., Miljić, G., Tišma, M., Sundaram, S. & Hessel, V. (2017). Is there a future for enzymatic biodiesel industrial production in microreactors? Appl. Energy 201, 124–134. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.062.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Atadashi, I.M., Aroua, M.K., Abdul Aziz, A.R. & Sulaiman, N.M.N (2012). Production of biodiesel using high free fatty acid feedstocks. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 16(5), 3275–3285. DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.02.063.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bouaid, A., Vázquez, R., Martinez, M. & Aracil, J. (2016). Effect of free fatty acids contents on biodiesel quality. Pilot plant studies. Fuel 174, 54-–62. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2016.01.018.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Palanisamy, K., Idlan, M.K. & Saifudin, N. (2013). Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of moisture removal and energy usage in pretreatment module of waste cooking oil for biodiesel production. IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci. 16, 012053. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/16/1/012053.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Yuan, X., Liu, J., Zeng, G., Shi, J., Tong, J. & Huang, G. (2008). Optimization of conversion of waste rapeseed oil with high FFA to biodiesel using response surface methodology. Renew. Energy 33, 1678–1684. DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2007.09.007.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sendzikiene, E., Santaraite, M. & Makareviciene, V. (2020). Lipase-Catalysed In Situ Transesterification of Waste Rapeseed Oil to Produce Diesel-Biodiesel Blends. Processes 8, 1118. DOI: 10.3390/pr8091118.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Karki, S., Sanjel, N., Poudel, J., Hyung Choi, J. & Cheon Oh, S. (2017). Supercritical Transesterification of Waste Vegetable Oil: Characteristic Comparison of Ethanol and Methanol as Solvents. Appl. Sci. 7, 632. DOI: 10.3390/app7060632.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mowry, G. (2011). A portable, automated and environmentally friendly biodiesel processing system. Int. J. Sustain. Energy 30(sup1), S24–S34. DOI: 10.1080/1478646X.2010.542816.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Daniyan, I., Daniyan, L., Adeodu, A. & Ale, F. (2023). Automation and Control of a Multi-feedstock Biodiesel Production Plant. IETE J. Res. 70(5), 5081–5099. DOI: 10.1080/03772063.2023.2220285.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Soni, H., Bhattu, M., Verma, M., Kaur, M., Al-Kahtani, A.A., Lone, I.H., Yadav, A.N. & Ubaidullah, M. (2024). From kitchen to cosmetics: Study on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of waste cooking oil-derived soap. J. King Saud Univ. Sci. 36(10), 103483. DOI: 10.1016/j.jksus.2024.103483.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Teng, Y., Stewart, S.G., Hai, Y.-W., Li, X., Banwell, M.G. & Lan, P. (2020). Sucrose fatty acid esters: synthesis, emulsifying capacities, biological activities and structure-property profiles. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 61(19), 3297–3317. DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1798346.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Karmakar, G., Ghosh, P. & Brajendra K. Sharma, B. K. (2017). Chemically Modifying Vegetable Oils to Prepare Green Lubricants. Lubricants, 5(4), 44. DOI: 10.3390/lubricants5040044.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Salmia, B., Muda, Z.C., Alam, M.A., Sidek, L.M. & Hidayah, B. (2013). Used cooking oil as a green chemical admixture in concrete. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 16, 012077. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/16/1/012077.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Cárdenas, J., Orjuela, A., Sánchez, D.L., Narváez, P.C., Katryniok, B. & Clark, J. (2021). Pre-treatment of used cooking oils for the production of green chemicals: A review. J. Clean. Prod. 289, 125129. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125129.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Abidin, S.Z., Haigh, K.F., Saha, B. (2012). Esterification of Free Fatty Acids in Used Cooking Oil Using Ion-Exchange Resins as Catalysts: An Efficient Pretreatment Method for Biodiesel Feedstock. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2, 39.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
dos Reis, S.C.M., Lachter, E.R., Nascimento R.S.V., Rodrigues Jr, J.A., Reid, M.G., (2005) Transesterification of Brazilian Vegetable Oils with Methanol over Ion-Exchange Resins. JAOCS V82, I 9, 661. DOI: 10.1007/s11746-005-1125-y.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pjct-2025-0007 | Journal eISSN: 3072-0389

Journal RSS Feed

Language: English

Page range: 1 - 10

Submitted on: Jul 30, 2024

Accepted on: Mar 3, 2025

Published on: Jul 17, 2025

Published by: West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: Volume open

Keywords:

waste cooking oil (WCO),

transesterification,

Matrix9 HAAS reactors system,

processing contaminated oils,

chemical reactors

Related subjects:

Industrial chemistry,

Biotechnology,

Chemical engineering,

Process engineering

© 2025 Róża Tomikowska, Rafał Tomikowski, Krzysztof Łapiński, Szymon Goderski, Maciej Kopiński, Marcin Siedlecki, Marek Ochowiak, Krystian Czernek, published by West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 27 (2025): Issue 2 (June 2025)