Modelling and Simulation of Transesterification Reaction in a Batch Reactor

Research Article

Modelling and Simulation of Transesterification Reaction in a Batch Reactor

A.S. Yusuff, M.C. Ekwonu, I.I. Ajala, A.A. Adeyi, T.T. Awofolaju

Corresponding Author : A.S Yusuff

Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University.

Email ID : adeyinkayusuff@yahoo.com

Received : 2014-01-02 Accepted : 2014-01-14 Published : 2014-01-14

Abstract : A dynamic model for the transesterification reaction in a batch reactor was developed for the triglyceride, methanol, intermediates and products (alkyl ester and glycerol) concentrations. The model took into account of mass transfer and kinetic on the reaction process. In this present study, the effect of methanol to triglyceride molar ratio on conversion of triglyceride was investigated at fixed temperature and catalyst concentration. The model consists of system of ordinary differential equations, and the differential equations representing the rates of disappearance and production of species involved were solved using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. Simulated results obtained herein agree exceedingly well with the general observations in the literature.

Keywords : Biodiesel, Mathematical model, Kinetics, Mass transfer, Batch Reactor

Citation : A.S Yusuff et al (2013) Modelling and Simulation of Transesterification Reaction in a Batch Reactor. J. of Bioprocessing and Chemical Engineering. V1I1.03. DOI : 10.5281/zenodo.1000295

Copyright : © 2018 A.S Yusuff . This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Reviewer Comments : 1# The transesterification reaction between triglycerides and methanol makes it possible to obtain methyl esters of fatty acids used as fuels in diesel engines. The aim of the article is to develop a dynamic model able to represent both mass transfer and chemical kinetics during a reaction taking place in a batch reactor. The study leads to obtaining a system of differential equations whose resolution is done as part of the Runge-Kutta method using Matlab software and using a specific algorithm. This paper shows a great agreement between the results obtained and those listed in the literature.
Mustapha CHERKAOUI
Professor of Chemistry at Cadi Ayyad University
Agregate Professor in Physics and Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
High Training Teachers School (ENS-Marrakesh)
Hay Hassani, Essaouira Road
Marrakesh 40140
Morocco