Green engineering: continuous production of biodiesel using an alkaline catalyst in an intensified narrow channel reactor

Abstract

This paper describes an energy efficient continuous process for the production of biodiesel using canola oil as feedstock. A narrow channel reactor was used, employing both slug and stratified flow behaviors, which are associated with flow through channels of small hydraulic diameter. In this intensified system, high conversions were achieved and good separation efficiencies were observed. Experiments were carried out using canola oil and methanol as reactants with sodium hydroxide as the catalyst to study the influence of catalyst loading, residence time and temperature on the reaction rate. Using a catalyst loading of 1% and a reaction temperature of 60 °C and pressure of 80 psig greater than 98% conversion was achieved in a residence time of 3 min.