Monitoring of Biodiesel Transesterification Process Using Impedance Measurement

Abstract

Abstract-Transesterification is commonly used to produce biodiesel from methylester. In order to control the conversion process it is often useful to employ process monitoring and in particular monitor the mass transfer processes that limit the initial reaction rates. Such monitoring of the initial phase of reaction may provide opportunity for process optimization. Previous work has identified many methods to monitor reaction progress. This paper proposes the use of a simple method which is able to provide information regarding the progress of mass transfer and chemical reaction during biodiesel production. The process uses impedance measurement. The experimentally determined impedance results clearly show the two important phases of the transesterification reaction, a mass transfer control phase followed by a kinetically controlled phase.

The Carbonate-catalyzed Transesterification of Sunflower Oil for Biodiesel Production: in situ Monitoring and Density Functional Theory Calculations

“…The results obtained were also able to tell if saponification took place. 18 Clarks et al 19 obtained reproducible pH measurements that were used to monitor the transesterification reaction of canola oil using potassium hydroxide as a catalyst. The pH measurements were also related to the conversion of canola oil to biodiesel.…”