Optimization of continuous biodiesel production from refined palm oil using a rotating inert packed-bed reactor
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Abstract
This study investigates the application of a rotating inert packed-bed reactor (RIPB) for continuous production of biodiesel from refined palm oil (RPO) using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a homogeneous catalyst. The study examines the impact of catalyst loading, methanol-to-oil molar ratio, rotational speed and feed flow rate on biodiesel (or fatty acid methyl ester, FAME) yield. A central composite design (CCD) approach with response surface methodology (RSM) was used to identify the optimal conditions for achieving maximum biodiesel yield. A FAME yield as high as 97.9% was achieved at a NaOH loading of 1.258 wt.% of oil, a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 5.5:1, a rotational speed of 1,280 rpm, a feed flow rate of 210 mL/min, and a reaction temperature of 60 °C. The performance of the RIPB was further compared with other intensified reactors including the rotating tube reactor, household hand blender, and spinning disc reactor. The RIPB demonstrated the short residence time (<5 s) and the high yield efficiency (20.9 × 10−4 g/J). The measured properties of the purified biodiesel were within their corresponding limits specified in EN 14214 and ASTM D6751. These results demonstrate the potential of the RIPB for intensified continuous biodiesel production.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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