Transcript Improvements & new technologies

Raúl Mateos González
Katharina J. Bauer
Pablo M. Martín Soladana
Content
Definition
 Chemical reaction
 Comparison to conventional diesel
 Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis
 Improvement and new technologies
 Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
Definition:
Biodiesel is defined as fatty acid methyl or
ethyl esters from vegetable oils or animal fats
when they are used as fuel in diesel engines
and heating systems.
CHEMICAL REACTION

Transesterification catalyzed by acid or basic
homogeneous catalysts with alcohol
SAPONIFICATION
Occurs when FFA react with basic catalyst
 Problematic because:

 Consume
catalyst
 Biodiesel yield decreases
 Complicates separation & purification
reduce biodiesel production efficiency
COMPARISON BIODIESEL VS. CONVENTIONAL
DIESEL

Biodiesel advantages
 Independency
from crude oil imports
 Less harmful emissions
 Biodegradable and non-toxic
 Safer to store and transport

Biodiesel disadvantages
 Higher
production costs
 Raw material problems
HOMOGENEOUS & HETEROGENEOUS
Advantages of heterogeneous process:
•Lower initial costs
•High conversion rate
•Less chemicals are used
•Lower consumption of methanol
•Glycerine is purer
Advantages of homogeneous process:
•Biodiesel does not depend on glycerine price
•Lower consumption of energy is needed
Homogeneous catalysis
Base catalyzed reaction:
•It is able to catalyze reactions at low temperature and
atmospheric pressure.
•High conversion can be achieved in minimal time
•Economical
Although is very sensible to FFA on the feedstock.
Homogeneous catalysis
Acid catalyzed reaction:
•Insensitive to FFA in feedstock
•H2SO4 and HCl is used
•More economical process
•Although lower reaction rate
Homogeneous catalysis
Homogeneous acid and basic catalyst:
•FFA can be converted to ester
•A lot of acid is required to esterification
IMPROVEMENTS & NEW TECHNOLOGIES
1. Enzymatic catalysis
2. Microwaves
3. Ultrasonic technology
ENZYMES
Advantages:
• Produces less wastewater
Disadvantages:
• Expensive catalysis
• No by-products
• Industrial scale
• Mild reaction conditions
• Slow reaction rate
• Easy separation
• Enzyme deactivation and
degeneration
• Reutilization
ENZYMES
Mostly used enzymes:
• Lypozym IM 60:
 Good yields with primary alcohols (93-99%)
 Deactivation can be avoided using hexane as solvent
•PS 30
 Better with secondary alcohols (85%)
 Used with hexane as solvent
 Immobilization (easy recovery)
•Novozym 435
 Best with secondary alcohols (96%)
 No solvent is used
 Deactivation problems
MICROWAVES
• Temperature
stability
• Reduces reaction time
• Improves efficiency
• Expensive equipment
• Continuous process improvement
ULTRASONIC TECHNOLOGY
• Stirring method
• Energy efficiency
•Useful for less solvable substances
• Reduces biodiesel and glycerol adsorption to
equipment
Conclusion

Homogeneous catalysis is the most commonly
used method

Saponification is the main problem

New technologies need to be improved