[Vwdiesel] Reactor converts vegetable oil into biodiesel

[James Hansen]

ah, that makes sense, thanks Hayden.
words like catalyst and enzyme get tossed around quite a bit by journalists.
-James

Hayden Chasteen wrote:
> Technically you are right, there is no catalyst.  the Lye (sodium 
> hydroxide) reacts with the methanol to form sodium methoxide which 
> chemically reacts with the long chain fats and turns them into methly 
> esters and glycerine. Therefore, chemically speaking, no catalyst is 
> present since by definition a catalyst helps the reaction go on but does 
> not get involved in the actually chemical reactions.  Hayden
> 
> "Those who would sacrifice Liberty for Security, deserve neither Liberty 
> nor Security." B. Franklin
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Hansen" <jhsg at sasktel.net>
> Cc: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 11:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Reactor converts vegetable oil into biodiesel
> 
> 
> 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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