Transesterification rate of model vegetable oil in heterogeneous system with a stirred vessel

The transesterification of triglyceride with methanol using alkali catalyst was experimentally measured to study the reaction rate of the transesterification in the heterogeneous system. The liquid–liquid dispersions were measured under the various conditions to examine the effects of the agitation conditions on the drop size distributions. The Sauter-mean diameters were obtained to estimate the specific surface area of the liquid–liquid dispersions during the transesterification. Then the model of transesterification rate in the heterogeneous system was shown, and the reaction rate constants were obtained based on the measurement of the transesterification rates. The constant of the first reaction was the smallest, and the first reaction was found to be rate-limiting in transesterification. The activation energies of formation in the transesterification were measured to be positive; the reactions of the transesterification were endothermic. The obtained constant was correlated in terms of temperature and concentration of alkali catalyst.