Continuous transesterification to produce biodiesel under HTCC/Na2SiO3/NWF composite catalytic membrane in flow-through membrane reactor

•A novel HTCC/Na2SiO3/NWF composite catalytic membrane was prepared.•PACCM showing an excellent catalytic activity and stability.•A kinetic model of the continuous transesterification by the PACCM was established.

A novel polymer-based alkaline composite catalytic membrane (PACCM) for the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol in a flow-through mode, was prepared with sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium) propyl] chitosan chloride supported into polypropylene non-woven fabric by nonsolvent induced phase separation. The transesterification with a conversion of above 97.0% was achieved under the PACCMs in a membrane reactor under a molar ratio of methanol/soybean oil of 9:1 and residence time of 3913 s at 60 °C. External mass-transfer resistance in the PACCM could be neglected when the flow rate was beyond 1.0 ml min−1. The transesterification in the membrane reactor was kinetically controlled. The PACCMs showed a good catalytic activity and stability. And the PACCMs could tolerate less than 3.0 wt.% water or less than 1.5 wt.% FFA in the feedstock at which the conversion reached above 90%.

Graphical abstractA novel polymer-based alkaline composite catalytic membrane (PACCM) was employed to catalyze the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol in a flow-through membrane reactor, showing an excellent catalytic activity and stability.Download high-res image (38KB)Download full-size image