Biodiesel preparation in a batch emulsification reactor

Abstract

The transesterification of vegetable oils (rapeseed oil was used) by low molecular alcohol is the most used method of biodiesel production. Since the reaction proceeds at the alcohol-oil interface, it is necessary to create a large interphase surface area using a special emulgation attachment. It was studied how the conditions (independent variables: molar ratio alcohol to oil, amount of used catalyst – KOH, time and temperature of reaction, intensity of stirring, revolution of emulgation attachment) affected the quality and quantity (dependent variables) of the ester phase – biodiesel. The amount of used catalyst was calculated with respect to the content of free fatty acid in oil. The statistical system of Plackett-Burman was used for experiment planning. Relationship between independent and dependent variables was found and described by multidimensional linear regression. Various statistical tests (principal component analysis, correlation matrix) were carried out, also.