Alok, Standard catalysts are sodium hydroxide (lye, NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH), upwards of 92% purity preferred.
There are more environmental concerns with the NaOH than with the KOH. Continual processing would require constant inputs, while product, byproducts, catalyst and alcohol are constantly being extracted. The greatest problem with such a system is the decreased level of conversion, ere go higher percentages of unconverted tri-, di- and monoglycerides oil in the finished ester. While this level of conversion may fall within whatever established standard is applicable, the batch method offers longer residence time for reaction and settling. Looking at the cost of some of the newly unveiled continuous process reactors that are becoming available, I personally would stay with 1,500 - 2,000 gallon a day batches. The daily output, conversion ratios and quality appear as if they leave much to be desired compared to what people believe they are capable of. If the continual process included constant fractional distillation, perhaps my assessment would be different. But this would require enormous heat inputs, somewhat defeating one of the principle purposes of biodiesel manufacture - wise use of energy. Our present leanings are that biodiesel is one of those industries that is best suited to low-tech manufacturing practices - especially if higher tech has a tendency to compromise quality and consume excess capital. Todd Appal Energy [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alok Srivastava" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 10:07 AM Subject: [biofuel] a query... > > Hii all, > sorry to disturb you all .. > i am a new person to this field..actually i am a > student and doing a project on this topic.. > can somebody suggest me few catalysts for > transesterification reaction of vegetable oils. > and a few sites or work done for making this process a > continuous process.. > thanking you for your favour.. > Alok > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger > http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Small business owners... Tell us what you think! http://us.click.yahoo.com/vO1FAB/txzCAA/ySSFAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
