Micro-technology in general and microfluidic platforms, in particular, can facilitate accurate study in the field of biodiesel production. Microfluidic devices which can be used in different applications have some advantages which include low reagents and power consumption, portability, high resolution, and selectivity in product separation and compound detections at low cost and faster processes. The vortex fluidic device (VFD) works on the principles of dynamic thin film, which is generated by the continuous addition of fluid to a rapidly rotating glass sample tube surface. VFD has been employed in a wide range of applications including controlling chemical reactions, probing the structure of self-organised systems, and graphene production by graphite exfoliating. Here we reported the processes of converting sunflower oil (SO) and waste cooking oil (WCO) to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) using the VFD-assisted catalytic transesterification in both confined and continuous flow mode operations. We show that at 0.9 mol.dm-3-KOH and methanol to SO ratio of 1:1 (v/v), 5, 925 rpm, and 45º inclination angle, within 13 min residence time, a total FAME yield of 99.72 wt. % was achievable. While with NaOH, at 0.4 mol.dm-3, 1:1 ratio of SO to methanol, for a combined flow rate of 3.5mlmin-1, tube rotating at 6,150 rpm and 45º inclination angle, within 8 min. residence time. It was found that a 97.30 wt. % total FAME yield was achieved at room temperature without the use of excess solvent. At 1.1 mol.dm-3, 98.04 wt. % FAME total yield was achieved at 6:1 (v/v), 6, 150 rpm and 45º inclination angle, within 18 min. residence time. This study further investigated the conversion of WCO with TiO2 in both confined and continuous flow processes. It was concluded that a 100.19 wt. % total FAME yield was achieved at room temperature without the use of an excess solvent such as acetone. The peak reaction conditions are 0.6 wt. %-TiO2 and methanol to WCO molar ratio of 9:1, 7, 500 rpm, and 45º inclination angle relative to a horizontal position, within 7.2 min. residence time in a continuous flow process. While under the confined mode, it was concluded that 97.30 wt. % total FAME yield at1.7 wt. %-TiO2 and methanol to WCO molar ratio of 6:1, 7, 500 rpm and 90º inclination angle relative to a horizontal position, within 40 min. reaction time. Replacing NaOH with KOH is effective, reducing the cost of production, improving green chemistry, and increasing the safety of using NaOH as a catalyst for biodiesel production. Vortex fluidic flow chemistry is effective in producing fatty acid methyl esters from sunflower oil-sourced triglycerides at room temperature. It is also effective in converting fatty acid from waste cooking oil to methyl esters at room temperature without the use of co-solvent, a down-streaming process, and catalyst recovery and recyclability.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)