title: A kinetic model of the Amberlyst-15 catalyzed transesterification of methyl stearate with n-butanol.
abstract: An attractive approach to improving cold flow properties of biodiesel is to transesterify fatty acid methyl esters with higher alcohols such as n-butanol or with branched alcohols such as isopropanol. In this study, the reaction kinetics of Amberlyst-15 catalyzed transesterification of methyl stearate, a model biodiesel compound, with n-butanol have been examined. After identifying conditions to minimize both internal and external mass transfer resistances, the effects of catalyst loading, temperature, and the mole ratio of n-butanol to methyl stearate in the transesterification reaction were investigated. Experimental data were fit to a pseudo-homogeneous, activity-based kinetic model with inclusion of etherification reactions to appropriately characterize the transesterification system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Venkata K S
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Pappu
authors.forename: Abraham J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Yanez
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peereboom
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Carl T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D020001:1-Butanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D004951:Esterification; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D013228:Stearates / Q000737:chemistry*; D013343:Styrenes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013228:Stearates; D013343:Styrenes; C528218:amberlyst-15; D020001:1-Butanol