Abstract

AVILA, Adrián; BULA, Antonio  and  SANJUAN, Homero. Kinetics of african palm olein transesterification with ethanol. INCI [online]. 2008, vol.33, n.3, pp.232-236. ISSN 0378-1844.

The kinetics of the reaction of African palm olein trans-esterification with ethanol was studied, as were the variables that affect the process. It was found that the reaction corresponding to this process consists of three reversible stages through which, starting with tri-glycerides and alcohol, an ester and glycerine are obtained, while mono-glycerides and di-glycerides or the different fatty acids present are formed as intermediary products. The influence of temperature on the reaction constants was determined. It was found that the model that fits the best is one of second order, and that it affects mainly the dynamics of mono- and di-glyceride formation, so that at higher temperatures lower final concentrations of these products are generated

Keywords : Aceite de Palma; Biodiesel; Cinética; Etanol; Transesterificación.