Analytické sledování průběhu ethanolýzy triglyceridů

Abstract

The current world energy crisis had led to the need for alternative energy source, one of these sources is the use of oil for the production of biodiesel using the transesterification process. This in turn requires the full process understanding in order to efficiently and easily monitor and control the transesterification reaction. In this work Transesterification reaction, using rapeseed oil and ethanol as an esterifying agent with Sodium Hydroxide as a catalyst, was monitored using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). This method was implemented as the analysis method in an on-line manner.2-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy was used on samples taken directly from the reaction mixture, in order to find regions of interest that directly correlate to the concentration or percentage of parameters of interest including : Triglycerides, Monoglycerides, Diglycerides, Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters, and Conversion. It was found that 2-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy can be easily implemented and leads to promising results, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was found to be reliable, with results within 5% error of the reference method used (Gas Chromatography). Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy with 2D-COS analysis was found to be quick, with the possibility of automation and would provide a jump forward for large-scale process control in the Ethanolysis On-Line monitoring when compared to classical Off-Line method.