Aspects of ultrasonically assisted transesterification of various vegetable oils with methanol

• Published in: Ultrasonics sonochemistry Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 380 - 386
• Main Authors: Stavarache, Carmen, Vinatoru, M., Maeda, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.03.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biodiesel; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Mechanistic aspects; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Rapid FAME synthesis; Sonochemical switch; Transesterification; Ultrasonic chemistry; Transesterification; Biodiesel; Sonochemical switch; Mechanistic aspects; Synthesis; Sonochemistry; Rapid FAME synthesis; Alkanol; Alcohol; Vegetable oil; Biodiesel; Sonochemical switch; Mechanistic aspects; Transesterification; Ultrasound; Methanol
• ISSN: 1350-4177; 1873-2828
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2006.08.004

The batch transesterification of vegetable oil with methanol, in the presence of potassium hydroxide as catalyst, by means of low frequency ultrasound (40 kHz) was studied with the aim of gaining more knowledge on intimate reaction mechanism. The concentration of fatty acid methyl esters, of mono-, di- and triglycerides of the actual reaction mixture were determined at short reaction time by HPLC. The effect of ultrasounds on the lipids transesterification correlated with triglyceride structures is discussed. It was found that under ultrasonic activation the rate-determining reaction switches from DG → MG (classical mechanic agitation) to MG + ROH → Gly + ME (ultrasonically driven transesterification).