The alternative fuel biodiesel is created from vegetable oil and animal fats. There are three main processes of manufacturing biodiesel. Based Catalyzed Reaction process is widely used these days. There are benefits to it. It can be done in low temperature and low pressure, its conversion rate is near perfect, there is no intermediate compound in the process and the process can be completed with regular equipments.
In this article we are going to briefly discuss the seven steps involved to complete the process.
The first step is to mix the alcohol with sodium hydroxide, also known a caustic soda. This dissolves in the alcohol when mixed with a mixture.
The mix is poured into a closed vessel and oil or fat is added. The reaction takes place in a closed environment to cut down the loss of alcohol. The temperature is kept a little over the boiling point of alcohol. Some extra alcohol is used to ensure the total conversion.
The reaction completes and glycerin and biodiesel in created. With the help of a centrifuge, these two items are quickly separated.
A process called flash evaporation is used to remove the extra alcohol from both products. It can be done by distillation as well.
Glycerin has sodium hydroxide and soap as bi product. These are removed and stored. Salt created at this process are used as fertilizer.
After removing biodiesel from glycerin, it is washed by warm water to clean caustic soda and soap, then dried before storage.
Before using as commercial biodiesel fuel is tested by sophisticated analytical equipment
Suggested Reading: Biodiesel Fuel Company
1 comment: