Transesterification of cotton seed oil using cosolvent in a tubular reactor

ABSTRACT

Most commercial processes for making biodiesel use batch processes. Typical reaction time ranges from 20 minutes to more than an hour. However, batch reactors are generally not suitable in the production of large-capacity chemicals. Production of biodiesel using a cosolvent such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) requires a rather short reaction time. The result is a fast reaction, in the order of 5–10 minutes. In this work, the production of cotton seed oil methyl ester (CSOME) was carried out in a tubular reactor using THF as cosolvent, while potassium hydroxide (KOH) served as catalyst. The feed was pre-mixed in a feed tank and pumped into the reactor using fuel pump at various flow rates. The yield of CSOME increased from 93.3% for a residence time of six minutes to 99.5% for a residence time of 14 minutes. The reaction was carried out at room temperature with methanol/oil ratio of 6:1 and methanol/THF volume ratio 1:1. The variance of product flow rate, kinematic viscosity and specific gravity was determined to ensure biodiesel quality consistency. Fuel properties such as flash point, cetane number, and kinematic viscosity were determined and compared with ASTM standards.

KEYWORDS:

• Cosolvent
• cotton seed oil
• transesterification
• tubular reactor

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to the chemical engineering department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Abuja for facilities and support of this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.