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In this study, transesterification kinetics of canola oil with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was investigated, intending to produce glycerol-free biofuel using triazabicyclodecene (TBD) as a catalyst. The triglyceride/DMC reaction in a stirred batch reactor produces a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and fatty acid glycerol carbonates (FAGCs), which are soluble in FAMEs and can then be used as a motor fuel. The main factors affecting the yield of biofuel, such as the molar ratio of oil/DMC, catalyst loading, reaction temperature, and reaction time, are discussed. A reaction mechanism has been proposed for the TBDcatalyzed transesterification. For the conversion of triglycerides, a second-order reaction rate with rate constants of 1.09 × 10 −2 , 1.65 × 10 −2 , and 2.30 × 10 −2 L mol −1 min −1 at 50, 60, and 70 °C, respectively, was determined from the regression of the experimental data. The corresponding value of activation energy was 36.36 kJ mol −1 . The maximum yield of 97.99% from transesterification of canola oil was obtained within 120 min.

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The boil-off gas (BOG) generation at LNG (liquefied natural gas) exporting terminals is significant and should be minimized and/or recycled efficiently and effectively. In this work, the study of BOG generation, minimization, and recovery has been performed for a typical LNG plant with C3MR (propane precooled mixed refrigerant) process, storage facility, loading facility, and LNG ship with four moss-type spherical tanks. Plant-wide dynamic simulations are employed to quantify dynamic BOG generations during loading and holding mode, under various LNG temperatures at LNG exporting terminals. On the basis of multiple case studies, optimum LNG temperatures under different LNG subcooling and BOG recovery strategies have been identified for the sake of total energy consumptions. This study provides valuable information about the effect of LNG subcooling temperature on BOG generation, which would help in operating LNG plants at optimum conditions and economically minimize BOG generation and recovering BOG at LNG exporting terminals. Conceivably, the resultant benefits are not only for the environmental sustainability (reduce emissions), but also for the LNG industry sustainability (save raw materials/energy and increase productivity).