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Refining the glycerin phase from palm‐oil biodiesel by ion‐exchange with cationic resins
Author(s) -
Gallego Morales Luis Javier,
Cardeño López Fernando,
Alberto Rios Luis
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.4054
Subject(s) - chemistry , ion exchange resin , biodiesel production , refining (metallurgy) , biodiesel , ion exchange , distillation , transesterification , chromatography , pulp and paper industry , chemical engineering , methanol , organic chemistry , catalysis , ion , engineering
Background Glycerin is produced as an 11% by‐product in biodiesel manufacturing. Impurities are concentrated in the glycerin phase. High‐vacuum distillation of glycerin is an energy‐intensive process. A new low‐cost purification strategy for glycerin is needed. This paper reports the refining of the glycerin phase obtained from palm‐oil biodiesel synthesis by ion‐exchange with cationic resins. In the literature and to the best of the authors' knowledge, the use of a real glycerin phase from biodiesel has not been reported. The ion‐exchange equilibrium was determined in a batch process, while variables for the industrial scaling‐up were studied in continuous operation . Results The sodium content obtained with low amounts of resin is lower than that obtained with mineral‐acid refining. Almost complete sodium removal could be achieved in continuous operation. Langmuir and Freundlich models give a good fit to the equilibrium data. Amberlyst was the best resin. Breakthrough capacity was 96% of static exchange capacity. 95% of the static ion exchange was recovered by washing with water‐soap . Conclusion A 96.6% purification level of glycerol was obtained with the resin Amberlyst 15, using a methanol content of 60%, liquid phase flow of 0.8 mL min −1 and 0.3 g resin g −1 glycerin phase; dynamic exchange capacity was 96% of the static exchange capacity. Exchange capacity is almost completely regenerated by washing with water‐soap. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry