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Glycerolysis of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters: 1. Investigations in a Batch Reactor
Author(s) -
Negi Devender S.,
Sobotka Felix,
Kimmel Tobias,
Wozny Günter,
Schomäcker Reinhard
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/s11746-006-1009-1
Subject(s) - methanol , chemistry , reaction rate , glycerol , mass transfer , batch reactor , kinetics , chemical kinetics , fatty acid methyl ester , inert gas , inert , chromatography , fatty acid , stripping (fiber) , organic chemistry , catalysis , biodiesel , materials science , physics , quantum mechanics , composite material
The present work focused on the glycerolysis of fatty acid methyl esters. The aim was to develop and test a kinetic model that could be used to reliably simulate different process alternatives for this reaction. A prerequisite was the identification and characterization of the factors that affect the reaction kinetics. Experiments were carried out in a batch reactor with and without forced removal of methanol, which is one of the reaction products. Concentrations of all components in the two‐phase system were measured. It was found that the methanol concentration has a strong effect on the reaction rate and equilibrium conversion. Near‐complete conversions were obtained by stripping methanol with an inert gas. The glycerol concentration in the ester phase was found to increase as the reaction proceeds, which also accelerates the reaction. Effects of mass transfer on the reaction rate were not found to control the reaction rate under well‐agitated conditions. A semi‐empirical model was used to simulate the reaction. The results from the semi‐empirical model show good agreement with experimental results.