Title:
Purification of Crude Biodiesel Fuel by Electrical Fields Part I - A new Separator Using Simplified Concept of Multi Extraction Stages
Author(s):
Takanashi, H., Kubo, R., Nakajima, T., Ohki, A., Kai, T., Funakawa, T., Iba, M., Maruyama, M.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
A new separator using a simplified concept of multiple extraction stages was developed to reduce the amount of wastewater discharged from downstream processes in a first generation biodiesel fuel production plant. In the separator, an emulsification/demulsification technique was applied to remove alkali metals, methanol and glycerol simultaneously from crude biodiesel fuels (BDF) produced with alkali (basic) catalysts. A small amount of water (2.23-2.44 volumetric %) was added continuously to the crude BDF in order to extract these impurities. For a rapid extraction, the emulsifications were performed by applying high electric fields. The emulsifications could be done with ease because of the existence of soaps in the crude BDF. The soaps were produced through side reactions between alkali catalysts and free fatty acids. The demulsification was performed by applying relatively low electric fields to the emulsions. A continuous operation of the emulsification/demulsification process was achieved by varying the electric field strength. Since the crude biodiesel flowed upward and water flowed downward, a theoretical multi stage contact could be achieved. The theoretical multi stage contact results in high performance purification with a limited amount of water. In the present study, demonstration results were obtained. Only 2.23 v/v% of water was needed to extract potassium of 164 mg/kg-BDF to below the detection limit (0.47 mg-K/kg-BDF). Methanol and glycerol in the purified BDF were 0.0176 and 0.00124 mass %, respectively. This separator can be applied to crude biodiesel fuels produced with sodium methoxide. Reducing the amount of wastewater will reduce energy consumption in biodiesel fuel production processes.
Keywords:
biodiesel, emulsion, removal
Topic:
Processes for Fuels from Biomass
Subtopic:
Production and supply of first generation liquid biofuels
Event:
19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP3.3.5
Pages:
2049 - 2050
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-55-4
ISBN-10:
88-89407-55-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP3.3.5
Price:
FREE
