Biodiesel
Production
Department Editor: Kate Torzewski
B
iodiesel can be produced from
vegetable oils by three types
of reactions: base catalyzed
transesterification of the oil; direct
acid-catalyzed transesterification of
the oil; and conversion of the oil to its
fatty acids, and then to biodiesel.
Biodiesel is typically produced by
a base-catalyzed reaction (Figure 2).
This method of production has several
advantages, including the following:
low temperature (150˚F) and pressure
(20 psi) reaction that requires only
standard materials of construction;
direct conversion to biodiesel with no
intermediate compounds; and high
conversion (98%) with minimal side
reactions and a low reaction time.
In the chemical reaction for base-
catalyzed biodiesel production,
vegetable oil is reacted with a short
chain alcohol (signified by ROH)
in the presence of a catalyst to
produce glycerin and biodiesel. The
fatty acid chains associated with
the oil, which are mostly palmitic,
stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids for
naturally occurring oils, are repre-
sented by R', R'' and R''' (Figure 1).
PRODUCTION STEPS
Mixing of alcohol and cata-
lyst. The catalyst is typically sodium
hydroxide (caustic soda) or potassium
hydroxide (potash). It is dissolved in
the alcohol using a standard agitator
or mixer. Methanol or ethanol is com-
monly used as the alcohol.
Reaction. The mixture of alcohol
and catalyst is charged into a closed
reaction vessel, and the oil is added.
The reaction mix is kept just above the
boiling point of the alcohol, 160°F,
to speed up the reaction, although it
is sometimes recommend to run the
reaction at room temperature. The
reaction time can vary from 1–8 h.
Excess alcohol is used to ensure total
conversion of the oil to its esters.
The amount of water and free
fatty acids in the incoming oil must
be monitored, because if either
level is too high, it can inhibit soap
formation and the separation of
glycerin downstream.
Methanol Catalyst
Separation. Glycerin and biodiesel
are the two main products of reac-
tion, with each containing an amount
of unreacted alcohol. Since the Mixer
Soybean oil
glycerin phase is much more dense
than biodiesel phase, the two phases
can be separated by gravity in a
settling vessel, with glycerin simply
drawn off the bottom of the settling Reactor
Excess methanol
vessel. Alternatively, a centrifuge can
be used to separate the two materials
more quickly.
Glycerin neutralization. The Settler
separated glycerin contains unused
catalyst and soaps, which are neutral- Biodiesel Glycerin
ized with an acid. Water and alcohol
are removed to produce glycerin
at 80–88% purity to sell as crude Neutral-
glycerin. Alternatively, glycerin can Wash
ization
distilled to 99% purity or higher for
selling to the cosmetic and pharma-
ceutical industries.
Methyl ester wash. After the
biodiesel is separated from glyc-
Distillation
Distillation
erin, residual catalyst or soaps can
be removed with a gentle warm
water wash.
Alcohol removal. Unreacted alco-
hol in both the glycerin and biodiesel
phases is removed by flash evapora- Biodiesel Glycerin
tion or distillation. The recovered alco-
hol is then reused for mixing with the ASTM specifications. Additionally, all
catalyst. Alcohol removal can occur biodiesel produced must be regis-
after the wash and neutralization, as tered with the U.S. Environmental
shown in Figure 2 to the right, but it Protection Agency (Washington, D.C)
can occur before these steps as well. under 40 CFR Part 79.
Product quality and registra- References
tion. Prior to use as a commercial 1. Biodiesel Production & Quality Standards,
fuel in the U.S., the finished biodiesel July, 2008. National Biodiesel Board,
www.biodiesel.org/resources/fuelfactsheets
must be analyzed to ensure it meets
CH2OCOR’’’ CH2OH R’’’ COOR
Catalyst
CH2OCOR’’ + 3 ROH CH2OH + R’’ COOR
CH2OCOR’ CH2OH R’ COOR
Vegetable Alcohol Glycerin Biodiesel
oil