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A novel ultrasonic reactor for continuous production of biodiesel from waste acid oil

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Abstract

FAME was produced by a two-step in-situ transesterification of acid oil (AO) with methanol in a novel continuous flow ultrasonic reactor system composed of four ultrasonic reactors with different frequency. The hydrodynamic behavior of the reactor was investigated by a step response technique, and the effect of ultrasonic frequency on mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids (FAMEs) formation was also investigated. The production process includes an in-situ sulfuric acid-catalyzed esterification of AO with methanol in the first two ultrasonic reactors successively followed by an in-situ base-catalyzed transesterification in the other two ultrasonic reactors. The AO initial free fatty acids (FFA) content about 17.5 w% was cut down to less than 1 w% by sulfuric acid-catalyzed esterification. FAME yields in excess of 97.0% identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were obtained by the two-step in-situ reaction. The maximum and minimum volumetric productivity could reach 13.76 L·h−1 and 10.24 L·h−1 respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, Guang Dong Province, China

    Hua-Sheng Zou & Jun Chai

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  1. Hua-Sheng Zou
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  2. Jun Chai
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Correspondence to Jun Chai.

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Zou, HS., Chai, J. A novel ultrasonic reactor for continuous production of biodiesel from waste acid oil. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 34, 353–359 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-016-0280-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-016-0280-6

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