title: Continuous esterification to produce biodiesel by SPES/PES/NWF composite catalytic membrane in flow-through membrane reactor: experimental and kinetic studies.
abstract: A novel composite catalytic membrane (CCM) was prepared from sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) and polyethersulfone (PES) blend supported by non-woven fabrics, as a heterogeneous catalyst to produce biodiesel from continuous esterification of oleic acid with methanol in a flow-through mode. A kinetic model of esterification was established based on a plug-flow assumption. The effects of the CCM structure (thickness, area, porosity, etc.), reaction temperature and the external and internal mass transfer resistances on esterification were investigated. The results showed that the CCM structure had a significant effect on the acid conversion. The external mass transfer resistance could be neglected when the flow rate was over 1.2 ml min(-1). The internal mass transfer resistance impacted on the conversion when membrane thickness was over 1.779 mm. An oleic acid conversion kept over 98.0% for 500 h of continuous running. The conversions obtained from the model are in good agreement with the experimental data.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hollow Fiber Membrane Materials and Processes, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenying
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Benqiao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Zhiqun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Shiwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002384:Catalysis; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D004951:Esterification; D007700:Kinetics; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013450:Sulfones / Q000737:chemistry*; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013450:Sulfones; D000432:Methanol