A sustainable method to produce biodiesel through an emulsion formation induced by a high shear mixer

Investigating the high‐shear mixed catalytic esterification of lauric acid with methanol using central composite design

“…A 4fold increase in the mixing speed, from 500 to 2000 rpm, led to a hardly noticeable increase in LA conversion. This would imply that in the HSM‐assisted acid esterification of LA with methanol to ML, the contact between reactants and catalyst is very intimate and efficient, 24‐26 that an operation at mild mixing speed conditions suffices to perform the reaction. It was reported that the volumetric mass transfer coefficient increased when liquid‐liquid systems are subjected to HSM as the respective strong shear forces produce smaller and more dispersed liquid droplets with a larger external surface area to volume ratio 41,42 .…”

“…For homogeneous processes, for instance, almost full conversion of LA when reacting with methanol was reached using sulfate compounds as catalysts requiring from 1 to 3 h of reaction time 18‐20 . In the LA esterification with ethanol catalyzed with sulfuric acid, ~88% LA conversion was attained after 1.7 to 2 h of operation 23‐25 . This implies that, attractively, the HSM‐assisted esterification can be envisaged as a simplified and less energy consumption process option.…”

“…[18][19][20] In the LA esterification with ethanol catalyzed with sulfuric acid, $88% LA conversion was attained after 1.7 to 2 h of operation. [23][24][25] This implies that, attractively, the HSM-assisted esterification can be envisaged as a simplified and less energy consumption process option. Noteworthily, the slight positive effect and nonstatistically significance of the mixing speed on LA conversion would indicate that the HSM-assisted acid esterification of LA with methanol to ML may be run at mild conditions of mixing speed without penalty in the efficiency of the reaction.…”

“…In the last years, an alternative route for the intensification of distinct reactions and synthesis of materials based on the high-shear mixing (HSM) technology was reported. Successful examples of this comprise the homogeneous-phase transesterification reaction for biodiesel production, 24,25 the synthesis of azidoesteroids, 26 and the production of anionic clays. 27 As regards biodiesel production, the authors reported that the conversion of vegetable oil can be as high as 94.5% and 97.1% when operating at a mixing rate of 4000 rpm at 25 C for 10 and 40 s of reaction time, respectively.…”

Impedimetric Sensor for Pentoses Based on Electrodeposited Carbon Nanotubes and Molecularly Imprinted poly-o-phenylenediamine

“…1 Thus, the encouragements in scientific research in bioenergy has intensified with the aim of developing sustainable and renewable alternatives. 2 In this way, second generation bioethanol becomes an attractive biofuel for minimizing or replacing fossil fuel consumption. The main advantages of this biofuel include the low emission of pollutants and the non-influence on food crops.…”