Microstructured devices for biodiesel production by transesterification

Abstract

Nowadays, the production of biofuels from various renewable sources is becoming increasingly interesting since fossil fuels are becoming less and less available and accessible. Biodegradability, non-toxicity, and low pollution emissions are merely some properties making biodiesel a more environmentally friendly fuel. The transesterification process has the most important role in the industrial production of biodiesel. The main disadvantages manifested by this conventional method of biodiesel production include long residence times of the reaction mixture, high production costs, high-energy consumption, and low efficiency of the process. Additionally, once biodiesel is produced, it should be purified. Wet washing is currently the most commonly used method in industrial production generating large quantities of wastewater that must be properly disposed of and represents a great economic and environmental burden. In order to address the above-mentioned issues, and further ecologically and economically justify and enhance the process of biodiesel production and purification, the improvement of the existing and the development of new technologies are intensively fostered these days. The microstructured devices in combination with transesterification are one of the new technologies that could be suitable to overcome the foregoing limitations of the currently used processes of biodiesel production and purification.