Novel highly integrated biodiesel production technology in a centrifugal contactor separator device

The base catalyzed production of biodiesel (FAME) from sunflower oil and methanol in a continuous centrifugal contactor separator (CCS) with integrated reaction and phase separation was studied. The effect of catalyst loading (sodium methoxide), temperature, rotational frequency and flow rates of the feed streams was investigated. An optimized and reproducible FAME yield of 96% was achieved at a feed rate of 12.6 mL min−1 sunflower oil and a sixfold molar excess of MeOH (3.15 mL min−1) containing the catalyst (1 wt% with respect to the oil). A jacket temperature of 75 °C and a rotational frequency of 30 Hz were applied. The productivity under those conditions (61 kgFAME mliquid−3 min−1) was slightly higher than for a conventional batch process. The main advantage is the combined reaction–separation in the CCS, eliminating the necessity of a subsequent liquid–liquid separation step.