Monoglyceride Synthesis from Methyl Ester in a Semibatch Reactor

Abstract

The research is the study of transesterification of methyl ester and glycerin, both derived from palm steering, for monoglyeeride synthesis in a semi batch reactor. Glycerin was fed to the reactor and reacted with methyl ester which was initially filled inside the reactor. Three factors namely temperature, catalyst parentage and feed rate of glycerin were studied and each factor has two levels as follow: temperature at 180º C and 210 º C.  Catalyst concentration at 0.25 and 0.5% by weight of methyl ester. And feed time of glycerin at 30 and 60 minutes. Temperature was found to be the most significant factor for monoglyceride synthesis At 210 º C , 0.5 % potassium hydroxide and feed rate of 1 mole per 60 minutes, total and alpha monoglyceride consent in the product were found to be 49.9 and 40.2% by weight respectively. The total and alpha monoglyceride content of the product from reaction that carried out at 210 º C were in the range of 47-50% and 39-40% by weight and the total and alpha monoglyceride content from reaction that carried out at 180 º C were in the range of 39-43% and 35-37% by weight, respectively