Abstract
A method for producing Bio-diesel (fatty acid alkyl ester), from vegetable oils of non-edible seeds
or used cooking oil with a homogeneous catalyst, preferably an alkali, dissolved in a primary
alcohol to form a liquid-liquid mixture, is herewith presented. The liquid-liquid mixture is pumped
through a static mixer, for preliminary agitation and reaction into the main stirred-tank reactor
where the triglycerides are converted / transesterified into fatty acid alkyl ester, the Bio-diesel.
The method also provides for further turbulent agitation in a centrifugal contactor separator to
ensure maximum conversion of the reactants to products and facilitate the separation of the biodiesel
from the by-product glycerol. The transesterification is conducted at atmospheric pressure and a temperature
slightly below the boiling point of the primary alcohol which is recovered from the products through flash
evaporation. A Solar Photo-Voltaic Assisted Bio-diesel Plant, designed for sequential modular operation, with a high potential for replication as a model for dissemination and transfer of Bio-diesel production technology in Nigeria, has been developed, constructed, and tested. The Performance Characteristics of the Pilot Plant, with special reference to the Static Mixer and Centrifugal Contactor Separator incorporated in the design show that a
reasonable Bio-diesel yield of 86.8% to 96% can be achieved in 4 to 5 minutes after the reaction.