Manufacture of Biodiesel

Abstract

A continuous manufacturing process is described. Vegetable oil is reacted with methanol and a catalyst such as KOH to produce biodiesel and glycerol. The reactants are passed through a reaction zone with magnetostrictive components ( 4 ) in it while subjecting them to a strong alternating rotatory magnetic field, preferably adjusted to produce a resonant acoustic or ultrasonic field in the reaction zone.

1 . A method for the continuous manufacture of biodiesel which comprises reacting vegetable oil and methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce biodiesel and glycerol, wherein the reaction takes place in a reaction zone in which magnetostrictive components are present in the mixture of reactants and the zone is subjected to a strong alternating rotatory magnetic field. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the rotation rate of the magnetic field is at least 3000 rpm. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2  wherein the individual magnetorestrictive pieces of material are small cylindrical iron bodies. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the alternating rotary magnetic field is one which produces acoustic resonance in the active centre of the reaction zone. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the reaction zone is divided by a plurality of perforated baffles, spaced to promote the resonance. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the magnetic field strength in the reaction zone is around 0.1 Tesla. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the catalyst is an alkali metal hydroxide. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the alkali metal hydroxide is first dissolved into the methanol and the solution then mixed with the vegetable oil and the mixture thereby formed is emulsified prior to entering the reaction chamber.