title: Dimethyl carbonate as potential reactant in non-catalytic biodiesel production by supercritical method.
abstract: In this study, the non-catalytic supercritical method has been studied in utilizing dimethyl carbonate. It was demonstrated that, the supercritical dimethyl carbonate process without any catalysts applied, converted triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters with glycerol carbonate and citramalic acid as by-products, while free fatty acids were converted to fatty acid methyl esters with glyoxal. After 12 min of reaction at 350 degrees C/20 MPa, rapeseed oil treated with supercritical dimethyl carbonate reached 94% (w/w) yield of fatty acid methyl ester. The by-products from this process which are glycerol carbonate and citramalic acid are much higher in value than glycerol produced by the conventional process. In addition, the yield of the fatty acid methyl esters as biodiesel was almost at par with supercritical methanol method. Therefore, supercritical dimethyl carbonate process can be a good candidate as an alternative biodiesel production process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Socio-Environmental Energy Science, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Zul
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ilham
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saka
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D004952:Esters / Q000737:chemistry; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005561:Formates; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; C023025:methyl carbonate; D000432:Methanol