Title: Characterising the conversion of transesterification reaction by modelling of glycerol-rich phase

Authors: Susarla Venkata Ananta Rama Sastry; Kamireddi Venkateswara Rao

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, MVGR College of Engineering (Autonomous), Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh 535005, India ' Petrochemical Courses, JNTU College of Engineering (Autonomous), JNTU Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract: The preparation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) involves different phase changes which are not yet characterised. The reaction media in its initial and final stages form two phases; top phase being FAME/unreacted oil and bottom phase being glycerol/methanol. The exact point when the bottom phase starts forming is not well defined. Experimental data of the reaction media composition gives an understanding of the formation of the glycerol phase. A model built for its theoretical concurrence showed good agreement with experimental data. From experimentation, the density of the bottom glycerol/methanol phase showed to be a good and simple indicator of the reaction conversion.

Keywords: characterisation; conversion; experiment; fatty acid methyl esters; FAME; glycerol; methanol; modelling; oil; phase change; reaction; transesterification.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2020.109162

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2020 Vol.26 No.3, pp.309 - 324

Received: 25 Dec 2018
Accepted: 04 Jun 2019
Published online: 01 Sep 2020 *

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