Common questions

What is the chemical formula for biodiesel?

What is the chemical formula for biodiesel?

It is a straight-chain hydrocarbon with a molecular formula C2H5OH, and is sometimes written EtOH. Figure 2 Molecular structure and 3-D model of ethanol.

Is the calcium methoxide used up in the synthesis of biodiesel?

Calcium methoxide is a low cost, strong base with high catalytic activity and is thus commonly used in the biofuels synthesis process during the transesterification reaction.

What are the reactants for making biodiesel?

Biodiesel is made when a triglyceride molecule (oil or fat) reacts with 3 molecules of an alcohol (usually methanol or ethanol) to produce 3 molecules of biodiesel (also called “methyl esters” or “ethyl esters”) and one molecule of glycerol.

How do you make a biodiesel reaction?

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel for diesel engines that is produced by chemically reacting a vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol. In words, the reaction is: Oil + alcohol → biodiesel + glycerin.

What is DERV diesel?

DERV stands for Diesel Engine Road Vehicle, but the fuel is also known as white diesel or road diesel. DERV is most commonly used to power transport and passenger vehicles that have diesel engines, such as trains, lorries, vans and boats.

What is biofuel diesel?

Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable alternative fuel made from a mix of modified vegetable oils and diesel fuel. Today, biodiesel is blended at a rate of 5% or less into almost all the diesel fuel sold in the United States.

Why is it generally easier to use virgin oil for the creation of biodiesel?

Pre-Lab Questions Why is it generally easier to use virgin oil for the creation of biodiesel? Biodiesel is easier to make with virgin oil but it is the less eco-friendly way to make it. Virgin oil can be obtained from regular.

How can production of free fatty acids impact Biodiesel Production?

However, the high free fatty acids (FFA) content in waste cooking oils can greatly reduce the efficiency of the alkali-catalyzed transesterification reaction that is most commonly used in making biodiesel.

How do you calculate biodiesel yield?

if you loose biodiesel during washing or though any other way , it reduces the yield and there by conversion efficiency but not ester content value….

  1. Yield of biodiesel(%) =mass of biodiesel obtained / mass of oil used.
  2. Ester Content (%)= cumulative mass of methyl esters/ mass of biodiesel.

How do you make diesel fuel?

It is produced from the fractional distillation of crude oil between 200 and 350 °C (392 and 662 °F) at atmospheric pressure, resulting in a mixture of carbon chains that typically contain between 9 and 25 carbon atoms per molecule.

How do you make biodiesel fuel?

All you do is heat the oil up, mix the catalyst & methanol together, add it to the heated oil, then shake it up and let it settle! Within a few hours the glycerin will settle out and you’ll have Biodiesel!

How is biodiesel separated from glycerol?

The most common way to produce biodiesel is by transesterification. In the separation by decantation, the biodiesel and glycerol mixture is rested in tanks. The separation cost is low, but it is a slow process. In the centrifugation process, the mixture is fed into centrifuges for separation.

How is the catalyst prepared for biodiesel production?

Water production increases the side reaction of soap formation which is unwanted. Figure 9.8b: Chemistry of biodiesel production. The catalyst is prepared by mixing methanol and a strong base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

When does the reaction of biodiesel take place?

With 100 lbs of fat and 16-20 lbs of alcohol (and 1 lb of catalyst), the reaction will produce 100 lbs of biodiesel and 10 lbs of glycerin. The reaction typically takes place at between 40-65°C.

What happens when you add alcohol to biodiesel?

With 100 lbs of fat and 16-20 lbs of alcohol (and 1 lb of catalyst), the reaction will produce 100 lbs of biodiesel and 10 lbs of glycerin. The reaction typically takes place at between 40-65°C. As the reaction temperature goes higher, the rate of reaction will increase,…

How are the properties of biodiesel fuel determined?

The properties of biodiesel depend on several factors, including the feedstock and the refining process. Producers who follow standard procedures to make the fuel, as described in Biodiesel Production Principles and Processes, will have a better chance of producing fuel that meets the specifications.

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Ruth Doyle