A Novel Intensive Production Method for Biodiesel - A One Year Feasibility Study

The project saw some excellent results this quarter. Positive effect of an electrical field upon interfacial inter-esterification reaction between a triglyceride ester and sodium methoxide to form biodiesel at a plane liquid-liquid interface has been demonstrated. Rate of reaction with an applied voltage of 10KV is greatly increased suggesting that interfacial disturbance is not the only mechanism involved. Changes in the electrophoretic transport of reactant and products may play a role in determining the overall rate. This non-uniform increase is consistent with other data for hydrolysis reactions involving oil-water mixtures under the influence of an electrical field. Further research is required using gel immobilization of the two phases to determine concentration profiles and fluxes of each components. The project also examined the effect of phase ratio upon reaction rate and designed and built a small continuous electrically enhanced biodiesel system. Hydrodynamic performance of this system is under evaluation.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Program Information: Advanced Research, Advanced Vehicle Technology

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  Office of Research, Development, and Technology
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC    20590
• Project Managers:

  Johnson, Shawn

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Kansas, Brandy Lake

  Brandy Lake, KS   
• Start Date: 20120510
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Source Data: RiP Project 31277

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Biodiesel fuels; Chemical reactions; Feasibility analysis; Hydrodynamics; Interfaces
• Subject Areas: Energy; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01467624
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Department of Transportation
• Files: RiP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 3:36PM