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Glycerolysis of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters: 1. Investigations in a Batch Reactor

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Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society

Abstract

The present work focused on the glycerolysis of fatty acid methyl esters. The aim was to develop and test a kinetic model that could be used to reliably simulate different process alternatives for this reaction. A prerequisite was the identification and characterization of the factors that affect the reaction kinetics. Experiments were carried out in a batch reactor with and without forced removal of methanol, which is one of the reaction products. Concentrations of all components in the two-phase system were measured. It was found that the methanol concentration has a strong effect on the reaction rate and equilibrium conversion. Near-complete conversions were obtained by stripping methanol with an inert gas. The glycerol concentration in the ester phase was found to increase as the reaction proceeds, which also accelerates the reaction. Effects of mass transfer on the reaction rate were not found to control the reaction rate under well-agitated conditions. A semi-empirical model was used to simulate the reaction. The results from the semi-empirical model show good agreement with experimental results.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the Berliner Graduiertenkolleg 827 “Transportvorgänge an bewegten Phasengrenzflächen” and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for financial support. One of the authors (Negi) wishes to thank Y. Kasaka for help with the experimental work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Chemie and Fachgebiet Dynamik und Betrieb technischer Anlagen, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, 10623, Germany

    Devender S. Negi, Felix Sobotka, Tobias Kimmel, Günter Wozny & Reinhard Schomäcker

  2. Institut für Chemie, Sekr. TC 8, Technische Universität Berlin, Strasse des 17 Juni 135, Berlin, 10623, Germany

    Reinhard Schomäcker

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  1. Devender S. Negi
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  2. Felix Sobotka
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  3. Tobias Kimmel
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  4. Günter Wozny
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  5. Reinhard Schomäcker
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Correspondence to Reinhard Schomäcker.

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Negi, D.S., Sobotka, F., Kimmel, T. et al. Glycerolysis of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters: 1. Investigations in a Batch Reactor. J Amer Oil Chem Soc 84, 83–90 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-006-1009-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-006-1009-1

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