Reactive Extraction for
Biodiesel Production: Process Development
Reactive extraction is a
method of converting oilseeds directly to
biodiesel without the need for intervening
crushing, solvent extraction or refining.
In its favour reactive
extraction:
-
Removes the
need for drying biomass
-
Removes the
capital and running cost
(usually large-scale,
centralised) crushing step
-
Removes the
solvent extraction, with
advantages similar to point 2
above, but further the use
of hexane is eliminated
-
Greatly
simplifies the process – perhaps
meaning that the process could
be suitable for small-scale
distributed production
Against this, the process
currently requires too much alcohol. This is a
problem as the excess would have to be recycled
within the process, probably by distillation,
with significant capital and running cost
implications.
This process has been studied
at Newcastle for a variety of oilseeds for the
last 5 years, and now requires development of a
whole process, with a view to eliminating the
processing problems we have determined. We have
a range of possible processing solutions to the
main identified problem to try out.
For more details, please
contact Prof Adam Harvey or
Dr Jon Lee.
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