[Vwdiesel] Reactor converts vegetable oil into biodiesel

[Jim DANA]

Actually the Lye ends up back in the glycerol, methanol, etc. leftovers as 
NaOH again. And can be reused along with the Methanol. Some folks do recover 
and reuse it.



>From: James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net>
>CC: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
>Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Reactor converts vegetable oil into biodiesel
>Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 22:31:14 -0600
>
>just one thing about the process...
>a catalyst as the article describes the hydroxide provider (lye),
>shouldn't be used up, but the lye is, so it's not a catalyst proper...
>or am I on the wrong line of thought here?
>The concept sounds pretty good tho.
>
>-James
>
>Andrew Buc wrote:
> > This from today's Seattle Times:
> >
> > http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/
> > 2002941349_biodiesel20m.html
> >
> > Reactor converts vegetable oil into biodiesel
> >
> > By William McCall
> > The Associated Press
> >
> > PORTLAND — A tiny chemical reactor that can convert vegetable oil
> > directly into biodiesel could help farmers turn some of their crops
> > into homegrown fuel to operate agricultural equipment instead of
> > relying on costly imported oil.
> >
> > "This is all about producing energy in such a way that it liberates
> > people," said Goran Jovanovic, a chemical-engineering professor at
> > Oregon State University who developed the microreactor.
> >
> > The device — about the size of a credit card — pumps vegetable oil and
> > alcohol through tiny parallel channels, each smaller than a human hair,
> > to convert the oil into biodiesel almost instantly.
> >
> > By comparison, it takes more than a day to produce biodiesel with
> > current technology.
> >
> > Conventional production involves dissolving a catalyst, such as sodium
> > hydroxide, in alcohol, then stirring it into vegetable oil in large
> > vats for about two hours.
> >
> > The mixture then has to sit for 12 to 24 hours, while a slow chemical
> > reaction forms biodiesel along with glycerin, a byproduct.
> >
> > The glycerin is separated and can be used to make other products, such
> > as soaps.
> >
> > But it still contains the chemical catalyst, which must be neutralized
> > and removed using hydrochloric acid — a long and costly process.
> >
> > The microreactor under development by the university and the Oregon
> > Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute eliminates the mixing, the
> > standing time and maybe even the need for a catalyst.
> >
> > "If we're successful with this, nobody will ever make biodiesel any
> > other way," Jovanovic said.
> >
> > The device is small, but it can be stacked in banks to increase
> > production levels to the volume required for commercial use, he said.
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> >
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