In situ production of fatty acid ethyl ester from low quality rice bran

Low quality rice bran with high free fatty acid content was utilized to produce fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) via in situ method. The effects of extraction solvent, acid and alkaline catalysts on the yield rate, esterification rate and transesterification rate were studied. About 12% (w(FAEE)/w(rice-bran)) of FAEE was obtained when absolute ethanol was used as solvent to extract rice bran oil. The esterification rate and transesterification rate reached 98% and 83%, respectively. With the aid of petroleum ether, the yield rate of FAEE could be improved to 16% (w(FAEE)/w(rice-bran)), and the esterification rate and transesterification rate reached 99% and 86%. Hydrophobic CaCO3 nanorods were also synthesized as value-added byproduct. Based on the proposed method, the production process of FAEE could be simplified and the production cost could be reduced. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.