Paper details

Title:

Monitoring of Biodiesel Synthesis Reactions by Isothermal Microcalorimetry

Author(s):

Andre, R., Defosse, G., Le Parlouër, P.

Document(s):

Abstract:

The transesterification of colza oil by ethanol using sodium hydroxide as a catalyst was studied using isothermal calorimetry. The functionalities and sensitivity of the instrumentation allowed following up the reaction at temperatures as low as 30°C. The enthalpy of this exothermic reaction was determined to be equal to ­10.9 ± 0.6J/g of ethanolate solution. Thermal conversion data at 30°C, 40°C and 50°C confirmed the acceleration of the reaction with temperature. Three thermal steps were noticed and the fastest, most exothermic one was attributed to the direct saponification of triglycerides by the unreacted sodium hydroxide present in the starting ethanolate solution. The second thermal step is linked with the slow diffusion of reactants molecule to the oil / ethanol interface. The third one was not clearly identified, but it was noticed that kinetics were slower with increasing temperature.

Keywords:

biodiesel, transesterification, vegetable oil, calorimetry

Topic:

Processes for Fuels from Biomass

Subtopic:

Production and supply of first generation liquid biofuels

Event:

19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

VP3.3.3

Pages:

2043 - 2045

ISBN-13:

978-88-89407-55-4

ISBN-10:

88-89407-55-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP3.3.3

Price:

FREE