Issue 15, 2016

An effective modular process for biodiesel manufacturing using heterogeneous catalysis

Abstract

We present an innovative reaction set-up and process for biodiesel manufacturing by heterogeneous catalysis. This process has two key advantages over the state-of-the-art process: it enables a variable reaction time and easy catalyst switching/replacement. The process principle presented here is generic for liquid-phase reactions requiring long residence times, where conventional fixed-bed column reactors offer little flexibility. This is especially important when one switches between feedstocks or when the catalyst activity declines over time. Biodiesel manufacturing is a highly relevant example, because the reactor performance depends on the feedstock nature and composition. The concept is demonstrated in a scaled-down continuous laboratory reactor, keeping a similar reaction time and comparable heat and mass transfer to a large-scale process by optimising the reactor dimensions, fluid velocity and catalyst pellet size. We then provide the design of the large-scale process, which consists of serpentine-type plug flow reactors assembled as vertical tubes filled with catalysts. The reactor productivity can increase significantly by reducing the catalyst pellet size. A switching system allows connecting/bypassing the tubes and easy catalyst replacement. The reactor can be employed in a two-stage reaction technology, or in a one-stage reaction combined with membrane separation. Production capacity can be scaled-up simply by adding parallel modules. The versatility and ease of application make this catalytic process concept suitable for low-cost mobile biodiesel production plants.

Graphical abstract: An effective modular process for biodiesel manufacturing using heterogeneous catalysis

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Feb 2016
Accepted
26 Apr 2016
First published
27 Apr 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2016,6, 6097-6108

An effective modular process for biodiesel manufacturing using heterogeneous catalysis

A. C. Dimian and G. Rothenberg, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2016, 6, 6097 DOI: 10.1039/C6CY00426A

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