The phase behavior of the methanol−palm oil system was first experimentally assessed in the temperature range of 363−393 K and pressure range of 1−4 MPa. Second, comparative modeling of the phase equilibrium of the methanol−tripalmitin system was performed using the Peng−Robinson equation of state (PR EoS) with secondorder modified Huron−Vidal (MHV2) mixing rules, in combination with the universal functional activity coefficient model (UNIFAC) and the universal quasi-chemical (UNI-QUAC) excess Gibbs free-energy model. The agreement between experimental and modeling results was found to be satisfactory when MHV2 mixing rules are used in combination with the UNIQUAC model. Finally, the thermodynamic model was applied to predict fluid phase equilibria of palm oil transesterification with supercritical methanol. From the isochoric method in the temperature range of 373−693 K and the pressure range of 1−16 MPa, the model was found to predict global mixture behavior.
-The biofuel production from used palm oil (UPO) using supercritical ethanol (SCE) at low molar ratio was investigated in order to produce an entirely renewable fuel. The effects of the reaction time and ethanol to oil molar ratio were considered from 0.5 to 10 min and 6:1 to 18:1, respectively. The optimal parameters were 10 min and a 12:1 molar ratio, representing a remarkable reduction from 42:1 for the conventional SCE process. Because of the high operating temperature, the triglycerides conversion rate reached 99%, and the glycerides content met the international specification for biodiesel. However, an ester content of 70% was obtained at optimal conditions. The side reaction between glycerol and ethanol demonstrated a positive effect in increasing fuel yield by 8.15%. The product can be considered an alternative biofuel instead of biodiesel.
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