Biodiesels and Design of Reactors for Their Industrial Manufacture

What is it about?

The potential and applications of biodiesels as the green fuels of the century are summarized. The chapter also discusses choice of raw materials and catalysts for biodiesel synthesis ( homogenous / heterogenous catalysts ), kinetics of trans-esterification process and kinetic models, design and analysis of reactors for biodiesel manufacture such as Stirred Tank reactors, Fluidized bed, Semifluidized bed, Diverging – converging Fluidized bed and Inverse Fluidized bed reactors. The performance analysis and special characteristics of each of these reactors have been highlighted. Scope and recommendations for future research are also presented.

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Why is it important?

Biodiesels are hailed as one among the most prospective green fuels of this decade and they have manifested themselves as excellent substitutes to petrodiesel (diesel oil derived from petroleum). Large scale use of biodiesels as engine / furnace fuels would therefore diminish the consumption of petroleum oils and shall thereby contribute to conservation of petroleum sources, which forms the veritable need of the day.