Abstract

REATEGUI ROMERO, Warren  and  SALAS BARRERA, Fernando Javier. Study of the transesterification process to obtain biodiesel from palm tree oil in a batch reactor. Rev. P+L [online]. 2013, vol.8, n.1, pp.119-134. ISSN 1909-0455.

Abstact Introduction. Theoretically, for producing three moles of ethyl-ester (biodiesel) there must be a reaction between one mole of triglyceride and three moles of ethyl alcohol, but this process is developed in three stages: considering the same stoichiometric relationship, in first place a fatty acid chain is separated from the triglyceride and is combined with the first mole of ethyl alcohol, forming an ethyl-ester mole and a diglyceride mole. Then, a fatty acid chain is separated from the diglyceride previously formed and is combined with the second mole of ethyl alcohol, forming an ethyl-ester molecule and a glycerine molecule, thus finishing the transesterification process. Objective. To study transesterification process in palm tree oil in order to obtain biodiesel in a batch reactor. Materials and methods. In order to perform the study aforementioned, a batch reactor with a volume control has been selected and a general equation of mass transfer has been applied. The equation was simplified taking into account certain considerations pertinent for the case. After the simplification, the equation was applied to every component that intervene in the transesterification process (mole balance for each component), obtaining a differential equations system (phenomena modeling) which was solved by following the finite differences method, thus obtaining the equations that relate concentration vs the time for ecah component. Results. The solution of the model is shown graphically, and the graphic clearly shows the concentration curves vs the time for each component. In these curves it can be observed the approximate time required by each chemical eactions to reach balance. Conclusion. By the use of the phenomenological modeling,a simplified form of the mass transference general equation was obtained for each component of the transesterification process in a batch reactor.

Keywords : Transesterification; finite differences; biodiesel; triglyceride; alcohol; diglyceride; monoglyceride; glycerine.

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