Rnew1102 SG CH8 F15

Chapter 8 Terminology / Study Guide
RNEW 1102 – Biodiesel Process Fundamentals
1. List the three primary raw materials choices for biodiesel production.
Vegetable Oils, animal fats, or recycled greases
2. What type of alcohol is used in biodiesel production?

Methanol, Ethanol, isopropanol, and butanol are used too
3. What are the names of the two main biodiesel reactions used to convert fats and
oils to their respective esters?
Transesterification and Esterification
4. Why is a catalyst required in the biodiesel reaction?

Catalyst assists solubility between feedstock and alcohol
Non-catalyzed reactions are extremely slow. Time is money
5. What are the two most common base catalysts used in the transesterification
reaction?
Potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide and sodium methoxide this one is also found in the
book.
6. What are the two most common acid catalysts used in the esterification reaction?
Sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid.
*7. Where does the base catalyst accumulate after the biodiesel reaction is complete?
The FFA will be titrated almost instantaneously by the dissolved catalyst to form soaps. Most of
the soaps will end up in the crude glycerin co-product .
*8. Where does the acid catalyst accumulate after the biodiesel reaction in complete?
The FFA will be titrated to form water and methyl ester.
9. Fill in the table below for typical proportions of the components of the biodiesel
reaction.
Reactant, Catalyst or Product Quantity
Neutralizer?
Reactant Fat or oil 100kg
Reactant Primary Alcohol 10kg
Catalyst Mineral Base 0.30kg
Neutralizer Mineral Acid 0.25kg
10. What two types of decisions are used to determine which feedstock will be used in
the biodiesel process?
 The choice is a process chemistry one and an economic one
 High levels of FFA’s will determine your reaction process steps
RNEW 1102 Fundamentals of Biodiesel Chapter 8 Study Guide Page 1 of 4

11. Contaminants such as color and odor can reduce what to things to the biodiesel
reaction products?
 Can reduce the value of the glycerin
 Can reduce the value of the biodiesel
12. List the three typical processes of vegetable oil refining and tell what is removed in
each step.
 Crude: Contains some FFA’s and phospholipids
 Degummed: Phospholipids are removed
 Refined: FFA’s are removed
13. What percent FFAs is yellow grease limited to and what is its predominant use in
the U.S.?
Yellow grease: limited to 15% FFA
Predominate U.S. production is for livestock feeds or pet foods
14. List four alcohols that can be used in biodiesel production.

Methanol, Ethanol, isopropanol, and butanol are used too
15. What two things occur if water is present in base catalyzed biodiesel reactions?
The Catalyst will perform poorly and the ester product will likely not meet the total glycerin
standard. Poor yield and soap formation.
16. Excessive exposure to methanol can cause what three things?

Excessive exposure to methanol can cause blindness, other health effects and death.
17. When direct acid esterification processes are used, what two products are
produced?
Water and biodiesel
18. If we are using a direct esterification process with high FFA’s, what is the alcohol
to FFA ratio requirement?
It takes three moles of alcohol to react completely with one mole of triglyceride. A 3:1 ration is
required for the reaction
19. High FFA feedstocks do not produce high yields of biodiesel in base-catalyzed
reactions. Why?
IF the feedstocks being treated are tested to have a high FFA content when it comes time to
process the fuel. The base catalyst will react with FFA to form soap and water thus lowering
the yields of biodiesel.
20. What does “CSTR” stand for? Explain what occurs in CSTR processes.
Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors

The CSTR can be varied in volume to allow for a longer residence time in CSTR1 to achieve a
greater extent of reaction. After the initial product glycerol is decanted, the reaction in CSTR2 is
rather rapid, with a 98+ percent reaction completion common.
Run at steady state with continuous flow of reactants and products; the feed assumes a uniform
composition throughout the reactor, exit stream has the same composition as in the tank
http://www.umich.edu/~elements/5e/asyLearn/bits/cstr/index.htm
22. Assume you will produce biodiesel via the esterification process. Phosphoric acid
is the initial catalyst followed by potassium hydroxide for neutralization and
phosphoric acid upon completion.
Why does this reaction process provide a potentially favorable opportunity for
processing plants?
It seems that in the process potassium phosphate would be produced which in turn is a
fertilizer co-product. The benefit of which require little explanation.
23. The BIOX system uses what two co-solvents? Why?
The BIOX system uses to co-solvents to overcome the slow reaction time caused by the
extremely low solubility of the alcohol in the triglyceride phase. The two solvents that can be
used in the BIOX systems are Tetrahydrofaurn (THF) and (MTBE)
24. Describe the reaction parameters for supercritical biodiesel processing.
A non-catalytic approach to ester production is the use of high (42:1) alcohol to oil ratio. Under
supercritical conditions (350℃ to 400℃ and > 80atm or 1200psi) the reaction is completed in
about 4 minutes. Capital and operational costs can be greater and energy consumption is higher
than other process options.
25. What criteria are used to determine the technology that will be used in a biodiesel
processing plant? List 5 of them.
 Desired capacity
 Feedstock type
 Feedstock quality
 Alcohol recovery
 Catalyst recovery

26. Explain why the quality of the feedstock is economically important for biodiesel
processing.
To be stated simply. The FFA content in feedstock affects the type of biodiesel process used,
and the yield of fuel form the process. The more FFA present in the feedstock the more it will
cost to process the feedstock and the less yield it will provide. There are many types of
feedstocks and grease however not usable in biodiesel production.

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Chapter 8 Terminology / Study Guide

RNEW 1102 – Biodiesel Process Fundamentals

2. What type of alcohol is used in biodiesel production?

4. Why is a catalyst required in the biodiesel reaction?

RNEW 1102 Fundamentals of Biodiesel Chapter 8 Study Guide Page 1 of 4

14. List four alcohols that can be used in biodiesel production.

16. Excessive exposure to methanol can cause what three things?

RNEW 1102 Fundamentals of Biodiesel Chapter 8 Study Guide Page 2 of 4

23. The BIOX system uses what two co-solvents? Why?

24. Describe the reaction parameters for supercritical biodiesel processing.

RNEW 1102 Fundamentals of Biodiesel Chapter 8 Study Guide Page 3 of 4

RNEW 1102 Fundamentals of Biodiesel Chapter 8 Study Guide Page 4 of 4

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