Transesterification
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Transcript Transesterification
October 05, 2009
Transesterification
Transesterification is a chemical reaction where
triglyceride is reacted with alcohol in the presence of
catalyst to produce alkyl esters. Biodiesel is produced
by the transesterification process.
Every 100 gallons of oil produces about 100 gallons
of biodiesel and 10 gallons of glycerol.
What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a petroleum diesel replacement fuel used
in CI engines.
It can be produced from any plant or animal based
lipids.
Plant Based Oils:
Soybean oil; cotton seeds oil; sunflower oil.
Animal Fats:
Beef tallow; pork lard; poultry fat.
Recycled Cooking Grease:
Yellow grease.
Note: Raw or refined oil is not biodiesel.
Estimated Biodiesel Production
in US
Source: www.biodiesel.org
Benefits of Biodiesel
High energy return and displace petroleum based
fuels.
Biodiesel reduces life-cycle greenhouse gas
emissions.
Biodiesel reduces tailpipe emissions except NOx.
Biodiesel improves air quality and has positive
impact in human health.
Biodiesel improves engine operation and easy to
blend.
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
Emissions Impact of Biodiesel
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
Other Biodiesel Attributes
Lower Energy Density: 8% less energy per gallon
compare to diesel.
Low Temperature Operability: biodiesel freezes at
20 to 30 oF higher than that of petroleum diesel.
Storage Stability: additives should be used if stored
more than a few months. Acidity should be measured
monthly.
Biodiesel is susceptible to microbial degradation.
Minimize water in contact and test for microbial
contamination.
Biodiesel Production Process
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
Commercial Processing Unit for
Home Made Biodiesel
Selected Properties of Biodiesel
and Diesel
1.9 – 6.0
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
ASTM Standards for Biodiesel
Important Properties to Look
Flash Point/Methanol Content
Water Content
Sulfated Ash Content
Free Glycerin
Total Glycerin
Na and K Content
Sulfur Content (if H2SO4 is used as catalyst)
B100
B100 refers 100% biodiesel and 0% diesel fuel.
Biodiesel is a very good solvent.
B100 freezes at much higher temperature than
conventional diesel.
Biodiesel is not compatible with certain hoses and
gaskets.
Biodiesel is not compatible with certain metals and
plastics.
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
Variation in Biodiesel Properties
Feedstocks and Processes
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
Fuel Properties as a Function of
Feedstocks
Heating Value of Fuel
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
Cetane Number
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide
Oxidation Stability
Fuel aging and oxidation can lead to high acid
number, high viscosity and formation of sediments.
The higher the level of unsaturation, the more likely
that the biodiesel will oxidize.
Heat and sunlight will accelerate oxidation process.
Metals such as copper, brass, bronze, lead, tin, and
zinc will accelerate the degradation process.
Keeping oxygen from the biodiesel reduces or
eliminates fuel oxidation.
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide, pp.21
Long-Term Storage Stability
Source: NREL , 2008. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide, pp.21
Example 1
Determine the amount of vegetable oil, catalyst and
methanol required to produce 35 x106 lb/yr (5
million gallons per year) of biodiesel.
Molecular Weight of FAMEs = 292.2
Molecular Weight of Methanol = 32.1
Molecular weight of Glycerol = 92.1
Molecular weight of soybean oil = 885
35 x 106 lb of FAMEs x (1 lb mol/292.2 lb)
= 120 x 103 lb mol of FAMEs
Amount of VO = 40 x 103 lb mol = 35.06 x 106 lb
Assuming methanol/oil molar ratio = 6:1
Amount of Methanol = 6 x 40 x 103 lb mol
= 240 x 103 lb mol = 7.68 x 106 lb
Amount of Glycerol = 40 x 103 lb mol = 3.68 x 106 lb
Weight of Catalyst = 0.01 x 35.06 x 106 lb
= 350.6 x 103 lb
Further Reading
Fangrui Ma and Milford A. Hanna, 1999. Biodiesel
production: a review. Bioresource Technology, vol.
70, pp. 1-15
Chemical Properties of Biodiesel
Source: Singh, 2008. Ph.D. Dissertation, MSU
Transesterification Process
Base-catalyzed Transesterification
Acid-catalyzed Transesterification
Enzyme-catalyzed Transesterification
Supercritical Transesterification
Base-catalyzed Transesterification
This is the most widely used technique to produce
biodiesel.
Possibility of formation soap if there is a high free
fatty acids (FFAs) content in triglycerides.
Excessive water can hydrolyze to form FFAs.
Recycling of catalyst is challenging and not cost
effective.
Glycerol is in the crude form and has very little value.
Biodiesel Production Process
Oil Extraction
Degumming Process
Determine the Amount of Methanol and Catalyst
Transesterification Process
Neutralization
Methanol Recovery
Crude Glycerin and Biodiesel Separation
Crude Biodiesel Purification
Degumming Process
Figure: Degumming Process
Source: www.ndsu.edu. Small Scale Biodiesel Production
Figure: Clear Wash
Methanol Vs. Ethanol
Ethanol is more expensive than methanol.
Lower ethyl ester conversion.
Ethanol is difficult to recycle.
Viscosity of the ethyl ester is slightly higher than
that of methyl ester.
Cloud and pour points are slightly lower than
that of methyl ester.
Source: Singh, 2008. Ph.D. Dissertation, MSU
Reaction Mechanism of Biodiesel
Production Process
Formation of Soap
Formation of soap inhibits the separation process
and also deactivate the catalyst.
Source: Gerpen et al., 2004. Biodiesel Production Technology
Hydrolysis of Triglycerides
At
high temperature, water can hydrolyze
triglycerides and form free fatty acids (FFAs).
Source: Gerpen et al., 2004. Biodiesel Production Technology
Acid-catalyzed Transesterification
Acid
catalyzed transesterification is very slow
compared to base-catalyzed transesterification.
Suitable for oil that has higher FFAs.
This process uses strong acid to catalyze
esterification of the FFAs and transesterification of
triglycerides.
The process does not produce soap with high FFAs
because no metal is present.
Esterification of FFAs is generally faster but
produces water.
Source: Gerpen et al., 2004. Biodiesel Production Technology
Enzyme-Catalyzed Transesterification
Use enzymes to produce esters from triglycerides.
Relatively longer period of reaction.
Expensive to produce because of the cost of enzymes.
No commercial plant using enzymes to produce
biodiesel.
Catalyst separation issue can be solved easily.
Supercritical Transesterification
Liquid
is defined as supercritical when its
temperature and pressure are above critical points.
Supercritical temperature and pressure for methanol
are 240 oC and 1140 psia, respectively.
No Catalyst is required but can be used.
Effect of Water Content and FFA
Source: Ayhan Demirbas, 2008. Biodiesel: a realistic fuel alternative for diesel engines
Biodiesel Production Process
Source: Brent Schulte, University of Arkansas. Biomass Magazine April 2008.
High FFAs Feedstocks
Put excess catalyst to form soap and soaps are
stripped using centrifuges (“caustic stripping”).
Acid-catalysis followed by base-catalysis process.
Acid catalyzed transesterification.
Procedure for High FFA Feedstocks
Measure FFA level.
Add 2.25 g methanol and 0.05 g sulfuric acid for
each gram of free fatty acid in the oil or fat.
Agitate for one hour at 60-65ºC.
Let the mixture settle. Methanol-water mixture will
rise to the top. Decant the methanol, water, and
sulfuric acid layer.
Take bottom fraction and measure new FFA level.
Source: Gerpen et al., 2004. Biodiesel Production Technology