Micro-Reactor Device For Dbsa-catalyzed Biodiesel Synthesis from Microalgae Chlorella Sp.

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor

^* Corresponding author: Ali.Jazie@qu.edu.iq

Abstract

The micro-reactor device was fabricated from Teflon and tested as a tool for biodiesel synthesis process from micro algae using Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid catalyst. The variables influenceing on the biodiesel yield were optimized. The maximum yield of biodiesel of 99% was obtained at the reaction conditions of (temperature: 373.15 K, residence time: 20 min, methanol/oil ratio: 20, co-solvent amount: 30 wt% and catalyst amount: 11wt%). The influence of water content also investigated and recommended to be less than 0.5 wt %. The acid value also reduced to a value of less than 0.5 % at the optimum reaction condition. DBSA was found highly active catalyst for the esterification and transesterification reaction in the micro – reactor device. Biodiesel was produced in microreactor device at a small residence time (20 min) compared to the very long time consumed by the conventional batch process. Isopropanol was used as a co-solvent in the process and showed highly active in the biodiesel production.