engleski

Influence of the reaction parameters on the synthesis of fatty acid isopentyl esters

Nowadays, due to the increasing environmental concerns, more and more emphasis is put on the research of renewable energy. Here, fatty acid isopentyl esters, also known as type of biodiesel, were synthesized and the influence of the reaction parameters on biodiesel conversion was investigated. The synthesis required a source of tryglicerides (here, sunflower oil) and an alcohol (here, isopentanol) as reactants, as well as a catalyst, specifically potassium hydroxide. Isopentanol was chosen as an alcohol since the presence of molecular branching could improve the biodiesel low-temperature properties, therefore excluding the need for corresponding fuel additives. The monitored reaction parameters were the reaction temperature, time, molar ratio of the reactants and the mass fraction of the catalyst. The obtained results suggested that the most significant reaction parameters are the molar ratio of the reactants and the mass fraction of the catalyst. According to the experimental plan, the highest conversion of 89.7 % was achieved when the reaction temperature was held at 40 °C, throughout 2.5 hours, with the molar ratio of the reactants of 7:1 and the mass fraction of the catalyst of 2 %.

biodiesel, transesterification, isopentanol

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