This article will discuss the scaleup of chemical and pharmaceutical plants. Introduction The blog will discuss only small continuous processes in the chemical industry and flow chemistry (continuous) processes in the pharmaceutical industries. COSTELLO gets involved when the laboratory chemistry has been completed and the client is ready to consider a continuous process. … [Read more...]
Biodiesel Purification – Final Part 5
Overview In this fifth and final installation on biodiesel production we will cover biodiesel purification. Biodiesel Purification by Distillation There are two distinct process for biodiesel purification. One is removal of methanol by distillation and the other is removal of glycerin and the sodium methylate catalyst by ion exchange. The crude biodiesel product is preheated … [Read more...]
Transesterification – Biodiesel Part 4
Overview The transesterification unit is designed to produce ASTM grade biodiesel by reacting low FFA oil or preesterified oils with excess methanol in the presence of a sodium methylate catalyst. Evaporator An oil drying system (Evaporator not shown) removes water and methanol after the esterification unit but prior to the transesterification system. The recovered … [Read more...]
Esterification – Biodiesel Part 3
Overview Feedstocks with high Free Fatty Acids cannot go directly to transesterification; first you must go through the esterification process. This is because the transesterification catalyst sodium methylolate reacts with the free fatty acids and forms soap. Instead, esterification of the free fatty acids is accomplished in two catalyst beds in series, with solid … [Read more...]
Degumming of Feedstocks – Part 2
1. Overview The Degumming of biodiesel feedstocks process is necessary prior to the esterification and transesterification processes. Typical crude degummed oils have had their Hydratable Phospholipids (HPLs) removed by a simple water wash process. We typically accomplish this at the crushers facility. However, a typical soybean oil contains both hydratable … [Read more...]