Phase transition at subcritical and supercritical conditions of triglycerides methanolysis

The analysis of phase equilibrium between methanol and glycerides during methyl esters of fatty acids (FAME or biodiesel) synthesis at high pressure and temperature is very important for describing the kinetic and process design. It was studied at pressure between 1.1 and 28.0 MPa and temperature from 150 to 270 °C. The transition of phases and composition of identified phases was calculated using RK-Aspen EOS and obtained values were also compared to experimentally determined data at subcritical condition (1.1–4.5 MPa and 150–210 °C). Results of experimental investigation, as well as performed simulation of some specified composition of reaction mixture, showed that system of triglycerides and methanol, at the beginning of reaction (at all analysed conditions except for supercritical state of mixture) is in equilibrium between two liquid phases. During the methanolysis of triglycerides, the phase's distribution was changed accordingly and it highly depends on actual composition of reaction mixture, temperature and pressure. Calculated and measured values indicated that distribution of methanol between the oil phase, the methyl esters, and the glycerol rich phase exists and depends of working condition. As a consequence of fact, that the methanolysis of triglycerides (oil) is mainly realized in the oil-rich phase, at the end of reaction, after all triglycerides are converted into FAME and glycerol, the oil phase disappears. Furthermore, according to the results of phase composition calculation, it was shown that from the beginning to the end of reaction one phase only exists, for methanolysis performed at 270 °C and 20.0 MPa.