Simulation of the catalytic reactive distillation process for biodiesel production via transesterification

Abstract

In order to simulate catalytic reactive distillation process for biodiesel production via transesterification accurately, the Antoine parameters of biodiesel and NRTL binary interaction coefficients were regressed using Aspen Plus Data Regression function according to the data in literatures. Then vapor pressure of biodiesel under different temperature and phase equilibrium conditions could be described with these parameters. Catalytic reactive distillation process for biodiesel production via transesterification was simulated with Aspen Plus software successfully. Reaction and separation was integrated in one catalytic reactive distillation column. As a result, although methanol-to-oil ratio was only 4:1, high purity (99.8 wt %) of biodiesel with high yield (99.7%) was obtained. The catalytic reactive distillation process for biodiesel production via transesterification would be adequately good to have a potential industrial relevance.