Currently operating a prototype unit for testing. Transesterification seems to be relatively straightforward at 100bar and 300C.
In our attempt to esterify Free Fatty Acids from biodiesel byproduct, we seem to have reached a limit. Starting with FFA that titrates around "20", we can only get to 3 or so.
Using a dried feedstoock, we are finding some water in the product, and suspect this is causing the limit.
We are also finding iron powder in the reactors and heat excangers and suspect that production versions of the apparatus may need to be 316 ss or better.
So, is the water being generated from the esterification killing the process, or is it the iron, and will 316 be adequate or do we go with Hastelloy 276 or Tantalum coating?
Any info or suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks,
CSC
UET Mixers Inc.
In our attempt to esterify Free Fatty Acids from biodiesel byproduct, we seem to have reached a limit. Starting with FFA that titrates around "20", we can only get to 3 or so.
Using a dried feedstoock, we are finding some water in the product, and suspect this is causing the limit.
We are also finding iron powder in the reactors and heat excangers and suspect that production versions of the apparatus may need to be 316 ss or better.
So, is the water being generated from the esterification killing the process, or is it the iron, and will 316 be adequate or do we go with Hastelloy 276 or Tantalum coating?
Any info or suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks,
CSC
UET Mixers Inc.