Kinetics of palm oil transesterification in a batch reactor

Methyl esters were produced by transesterification of palm oil with methano l in the presence of a catalyst (KOH). The rate of transesterification in a batch reactor increased with temperature up to 60 degreesC. Higher tempera tures did not reduce the time to reach maximal conversion. The conversion o f triglycerides (TG), diglycericles (DG), and monoglycerides (MG) appeared to be second order up to 30 min of reaction time. Reaction rate constants f or TG, DG, and MG hydrolysis reactions were 0.018-0.191 (wt%.min)(-1), and were higher at higher temperatures and higher for the MC reaction than for TG hydrolysis. Activation energies were 14.7, 14.2, and 6.4 kcal/mol for th e TG, DG, and MG hydrolysis reactions, respectively. The optimal catalyst c oncentration was 1% KOH.