Abstract
The KOH-catalyzed transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol was studied in batch conditions in a 22 L stirred reactor in order to (i) develop criteria for the energetic optimization of mechanical agitation in the biodiesel synthesis reaction; (ii) obtain preliminary information on the decantation of the reaction products; (iii) evaluate the influence of the mass-transfer resistance under different mixing conditions. Different combinations of radial, axial, and pitched-blade impellers were tested. For each combination an optimal rotational speed was identified, characterized on the one hand by a drastic reduction of the specific mixing energy, and on the other by a 20−30% increase of reaction time. An evaluation of the reaction and mass-transfer characteristic times showed that the optimized tests are characterized by a not negligible mass-transfer resistance. The complete halt of the agitation after a 1−2 min mixing time led to a further decrease of mixing energy, without any increase of reaction...
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