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RAPESEED OIL:
(also known as canola, rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rapaseed)
Rapeseed oil is the preferred oil stock for biodiesel production in most of Europe.
Rapeseed oil is used in the manufacture of biodiesel for powering motor vehicles. Biodiesel may be used in pure form (unmodified) in newer engines without engine damage, and is frequently combined with standard diesel in ratios varying from 2% to 20%.
Rapeseed oil is the preferred oil stock for biodiesel production in most of Europe, partly because rapeseed produces more oil per unit of land area as compared to other organic oil sources.
Top Rapeseed Producers - 2005
(million metric ton)
China 13.0
Canada 8.4
India 6.4
Germany 4.7
France 4.4
United Kingdom 1.9
Poland 1.4
Australia 1.1
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH):
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as lye, caustic soda and (incorrectly, according to IUPAC nomenclature) sodium hydrate, is a caustic metallic base.
Sodium hydroxide is completely ionic, containing sodium ions and hydroxide ions. The hydroxide ion makes sodium hydroxide a strong base which reacts with acids.
This type of reaction with a acid, releases heat, and hence is referred to as exothermic.
The natural exothermic (heat producing) reaction of long chain fatty acids with sodium hydroxide in vegetable oil aids as the catalyst for separating glycerol from the Rapeseed oil
Sodium hydroxide Chemical Properties:
IUPAC name Sodium hydroxide
Other names Lye, Caustic Soda
Identifiers
CAS number [1310-73-2]
Properties
Molecular formula NaOH
Molar mass 39.9971 g/mol
Appearance White solid
Density 2.1 g/cm³, solid
Melting point 318°C (591 K)
Boiling point 1390°C (1663 K)
Solubility in water 111 g/100 ml (20°C)
Basicity (pKb) -2.43
Hazards
MSDS http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/SO/sodium_hydroxide.html safety data sheet
NFPA 704 301
1(blue) 3(red) 0(yellow)
NFPA 704 (Fire Diamond) is a standard maintained by the U.S.-based National Fire Protection Association.
* Blue - Health
* Red - Flammability
* Yellow - Instability/Reactivity
* White - Special
Flash point Non-flammable.
Related compounds
Related bases Ammonia, lime.
METHANOL:
Also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits.
Methanol is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH (often abbreviated MeOH).
It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable, poisonous liquid with a distinctive odor that is somewhat milder and sweeter than ethanol (ethyl alcohol). At room temperature it is a polar liquid and is used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethyl alcohol.
Methanol burns in air forming carbon dioxide and water:
2 CH3OH + 3 O2 → 2 CO2 + 4 H2O
Methanol is a liquid under normal conditions, allowing it to be stored, transported and dispensed easily, much like petrol and diesel fuel.
However unlike petrol and diesel; Methanol can be distinguished easily with water in case of fire.
Methanol Chemical Properties:
IUPAC name methanol
Other names hydroxymethane, methyl alcohol, methyl hydrate, wood alcohol, carbinol
Identifiers:
CAS number [67-56-1]
RTECS number PC1400000
SMILES CO
Properties:
Molecular formula CH3OH
Molar mass 32.04 g/mol
Appearance colorless liquid
Density 0.7918 g/cm³, liquid
Melting point -97 °C (176 K)
Boiling point 64.7 °C (337.8 K)
Solubility in water Fully miscible
Acidity (pKa) ~ 15.5
Viscosity 0.59 mPa·s at 20 °C
Dipole moment 1.69 D (gas)
Hazards:
MSDS External MSDS
EU classification Flammable (F)
Toxic (T)
NFPA 704 1(blue) 3(red) 0(yellow)
NFPA 704 (Fire Diamond) is a standard maintained by the U.S.-based National Fire Protection Association.
* Blue - Health
* Red - Flammability
* Yellow - Instability/Reactivity
* White - Special
R-phrases R11, R23/24/25, R39/23/24/25
S-phrases (S1/2), S7, S16, S36/37, S45
Flash point 11 °C
Related compounds:
Related alkanols ethanol, butanol
Related compounds chloromethane, methoxymethane
Supplementary data page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol_%28data_page%29#Spectral_data
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol
WATER:
H2O - ordinary tap water is used to "wash-out" the remaining residues after reaction time.
The subsequent contaminated water can be filtered/recycled.
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HEAT SOURCE:
37deg c (body temperature - 98.6 degrees fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees celsius.)
Such as is thermostatically regulated as that provided safely by a water radiator - used as a "hot plate".
Generally the higher the temperature - the faster the reaction time and greater the yield.
Transesterification reaction of rapeseed oil in supercritical methanol was investigated without using any catalyst.
An experiment has been carried out in the batch-type reaction vessel preheated at 350 and 400°C and at a pressure of 45–65 MPa,
and with a molar ratio of 1:42 of the rapeseed oil to methanol.
It was consequently demonstrated that, in a preheating temperature of 350°C, 240 s of supercritical treatment of methanol was sufficient to convert the rapeseed oil to methyl esters and that, although the prepared methyl esters were basically the same as those of the common method with a basic catalyst, the yield of methyl esters by the former was found to be higher than that by the latter.
In addition, it was found that this new supercritical methanol process requires the shorter reaction time and simpler purification procedure because of the unused catalyst.
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The minimum requirements for biodiesel in the UK is fixed in the BS EN 14214 standard
Blends are designated as "B" followed by a number. B99 is 99% pure biodiesel and 1% petrodiesel. B20 is 20% renewable biodiesel and 80% fossil fuel.
The common international standard for biodiesel is EN 14214.
There are standards for three different varieties of biodiesel, which are made of different oils:
* RME (rapeseed methyl ester, according to DIN E 51606)
* PME (vegetable methyl ester, purely vegetable products, according to DIN E 51606)
* FME (fat methyl ester, vegetable and animal products, according to DIN V 51606)
The standards ensure that the following important factors in the fuel production process are satisfied:
* Complete reaction.
* Removal of glycerin.
* Removal of catalyst.
* Removal of alcohol.
* Absence of free fatty acids.
* Low sulfur content.
Chemically, transesterified biodiesel comprises a mix of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids.
The most common form uses methanol (converted to sodium methoxide) to produce methyl esters as it is the cheapest alcohol available,
though ethanol can be used to produce an ethyl ester biodiesel and higher alcohols such as isopropanol and butanol have also been used.
Using alcohols of higher molecular weights improves the cold flow properties of the resulting ester, at the cost of a less efficient transesterification reaction.
A lipid transesterification production process is used to convert the base oil to the desired esters. Any Free fatty acids (FFAs) in the base oil are either converted to soap and removed from the process,
or they are esterified (yielding more biodiesel) using an acidic catalyst. After this processing, unlike straight vegetable oil, biodiesel has combustion properties very similar to those of petroleum diesel, and can replace it in most current uses.
A byproduct of the transesterification process is the production of glycerol (also known as glycerin).
For every 1 tonne of biodiesel that is manufactured, 100 kg of glycerol are produced.
Usually this crude glycerol has to be purified, typically by performing vacuum distillation. This is rather energy intensive. The refined glycerol (98%+ purity) can then be utilised directly, or converted into other products.
Europe implements EU directive 2003/30/EC which targets 5.75% incorporation of biofuel to be achieved by 2010.
Biodiesel is biofuel which is helping to reduce dependence on petroleum. One concern regarding biodiesel production is what to do with the major by-product of biodiesel production, glycerol. http://www.theglycerolchallenge.org/
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is alternative “Biofuel”, produced from biomass - a renewable resource. Pure biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in diesel engines up to a 20% blend with little or no modifications. Higher blends, even pure biodiesel (100% biodiesel, or B100), may be able to be used in some engines. However, engine manufacturers are concerned about the impact of B100 on engine durability. Additionally, B100 is generally not suitable for use in low temperature conditions. Biodiesel is biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulphur and aromatics.
How is biodiesel made?
The most common method for making biodiesel is through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the triglycerides obtained from plants (oil seed rape, soy bean, palm oil and many others) are reacted with methanol using an alkaline catalyst (usually NaOH). The process leaves behind two products -- methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerol (also known as glycerin), a valuable byproduct traditionally usually sold to be used in soaps and other products.
Why should I use biodiesel?
Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources. Biodiesel is significantly safer than petroleum-derived diesel: it has a higher flashpoint (150°C, compared to 77°C for petroleum diesel) and so does not ignite easily or produce explosive vapours. Emission benefits include less particulate matter (the soot associated with diesel engines), reduced levels of carbon monoxide and total hydrocarbons (the oxygen present in biodiesel improves combustion to carbon dioxide). These reductions increase as the amount of biodiesel blended into diesel fuel increases. The best emission reductions are seen with B100. Since it can be made domestically from renewable resources, its use decreases dependence on foreign oil, supports the agricultural sector and contributes to the domestic economy.
Both Glycerin and Methanol are Hygroscopic
Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract water molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or adsorption.
Hygroscopic substances include honey, glycerin, ethanol, methanol, concentrated sulfuric acid, methamphetamine, and concentrated sodium hydroxide (lye). Calcium chloride is so hygroscopic that it eventually dissolves in the water it absorbs: this property is called deliquescence. Because of their affinity for atmospheric moisture, hygroscopic materials may need to be stored in sealed containers.
Long recognized for being environmentally friendly, biodiesel is renewable, nontoxic, biodegradable, and sulfur- free
emmitting 80% fewer hydrocarbons, 60% less carbon dioxide, and 50% less particulate matter than petroleum diesel.