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Rapid Production of Biodiesel in Mesoscale Oscillatory Baffled Reactors

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Anh Phan, Professor Adam Harvey, Dr Valentine Eze

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Abstract

Continuous alkali-catalyzed transesterification of rapeseed oil with methanol was carried out in three mesoreactor designs. The induction time decreased with oscillatory Reynolds number for all three reactors. Stable steady states were achieved within induction times of 1.5, 2.5, and 4.0 residence times for the integral, wire wool, and helical baffle designs, respectively. Both experimental and simulated results indicated that under the given conditions there is an optimal residence time for homogeneous transesterification. Higher residence times resulted in reduced fatty acid methyl ester content due to the saponification side reaction. The results demonstrate that biodiesel can be produced at an industrially acceptable level of conversion (>95%) in <5min residence time. This requires a combination of high catalyst concentration and good mixing. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Phan AN, Harvey AP, Eze V

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Chemical Engineering & Technology

Year: 2012

Volume: 35

Issue: 7

Pages: 1214-1220

Print publication date: 31/05/2012

ISSN (print): 0930-7516

ISSN (electronic): 1521-4125

Publisher: Wiley - V C H Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ceat.201200031

DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201200031

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