Activated Lignin for Biodiesel Formation
Current biodiesel production is costly, in part due to the catalysts added during transesterification and later washed out. We have previously shown that intact rapeseed shells can be ball-milled with an alcohol to produce biodiesel without an added catalyst. Here, we report on the activation and id...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Amanda Tanner Melanie Beazley Michael Hampton |
| author_facet | Amanda Tanner Melanie Beazley Michael Hampton |
| author_sort | Amanda Tanner |
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| description | Current biodiesel production is costly, in part due to the catalysts added during transesterification and later washed out. We have previously shown that intact rapeseed shells can be ball-milled with an alcohol to produce biodiesel without an added catalyst. Here, we report on the activation and identity of the complexing agent within the shells of rapeseeds and sunflower seeds. Lignin, present in the cell walls of plant matter, complexes with iron and manganese within metallic media, such as in a ball mill, and acts as a catalyst support in a transesterification reaction with oil and methanol. When ball-milled with methanol, rapeseed and sunflower seeds produce up to 90% biodiesel, similar to yields produced by industrial methods. However, this new method for producing biodiesel is a greener alternative, as it requires fewer organic solvents, may reduce the time and energy required for synthesis, and may reduce the effort required for product purification. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-001ee308f4e0496c96562294164eda7d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-001ee308f4e0496c96562294164eda7d2025-08-20T03:16:42ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-06-011813335510.3390/en18133355Activated Lignin for Biodiesel FormationAmanda Tanner0Melanie Beazley1Michael Hampton2Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USADepartment of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USADepartment of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USACurrent biodiesel production is costly, in part due to the catalysts added during transesterification and later washed out. We have previously shown that intact rapeseed shells can be ball-milled with an alcohol to produce biodiesel without an added catalyst. Here, we report on the activation and identity of the complexing agent within the shells of rapeseeds and sunflower seeds. Lignin, present in the cell walls of plant matter, complexes with iron and manganese within metallic media, such as in a ball mill, and acts as a catalyst support in a transesterification reaction with oil and methanol. When ball-milled with methanol, rapeseed and sunflower seeds produce up to 90% biodiesel, similar to yields produced by industrial methods. However, this new method for producing biodiesel is a greener alternative, as it requires fewer organic solvents, may reduce the time and energy required for synthesis, and may reduce the effort required for product purification.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3355biofuelbiodieselmechanochemistrylignintransesterification |
| spellingShingle | Amanda Tanner Melanie Beazley Michael Hampton Activated Lignin for Biodiesel Formation Energies biofuel biodiesel mechanochemistry lignin transesterification |
| title | Activated Lignin for Biodiesel Formation |
| title_full | Activated Lignin for Biodiesel Formation |
| title_fullStr | Activated Lignin for Biodiesel Formation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Activated Lignin for Biodiesel Formation |
| title_short | Activated Lignin for Biodiesel Formation |
| title_sort | activated lignin for biodiesel formation |
| topic | biofuel biodiesel mechanochemistry lignin transesterification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3355 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amandatanner activatedligninforbiodieselformation AT melaniebeazley activatedligninforbiodieselformation AT michaelhampton activatedligninforbiodieselformation |