Author/Authors :
Basiri، M نويسنده Department of Chemical Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran , , Rahimi، M نويسنده 2Department of Biotechnology, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran.Department of Chemical Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran , , Babaei Mohammadi، H نويسنده Department of Biotechnology, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran ,
Abstract :
The ultrasound-assisted (UA) soybean oil methanolysis using KOH
as a catalyst was studied at different reaction conditions in a
microreactor. Box–Behnken experimental design, with three
variables, was performed and the effects of three reaction
variables, i.e., reaction temperature, catalyst concentration and the
methanol-to-oil molar ratio on fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield
were evaluated by method of analysis of variance (ANOVA) and
multiple regression. A quadratic polynomial model was obtained to
predict the methyl ester yield. A yield of 97.1% for methyl ester was
obtained at the deduced optimal conditions: reaction temperature
of 47°C, KOH catalyst concentration of 1.29 (w/w%) and
methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 6:1. Validation experiments
confirmed the validity of the predicted model.
At the optimal operation condition for the ultrasonic process, a
higher yield of methyl esters was obtained in comparison with that
of the non-ultrasonic layout. The results show that UA
transesterification in microreactor minimizes the reaction time and
temperature, alcohol-to-oil molar ratio as well as energy
consumption.
