Table 1 Comparison of the different reactors applied in the solid-catalyzed esterification process.

From: Methyl ester production process from palm fatty acid distillate using hydrodynamic cavitation reactors in series with solid acid catalyst

Author

Process

Reaction

Type of reactor

Raw material

Molar ratio of methanol to oil

Type of catalyst

Temperature

(°C)

Time

(h)

Product yield

(%)

Ester purity (wt%)

Zhang et al.37

Batch

Esterification

Fixed bed reactor (360 rpm)

Waste cooking oil

29:1

5 g Amberlyst-15

5 g Amberlyst-15/polyvinyl alcohol

65

8

-

67.6

98

Lamba38

Batch

Esterification

Round bottom flask

Decanoic acid

7:1

9 wt%Amberlyst-15

75

6.25

 

68

Burmana et al.39

Batch

Esterification

Reactor pressure vessel

Lauric acid

8:1

10 wt%Amberlyst-15

60

2.5

 

98

Martínez–Castelló et al.40

Continuous

Esterification

Tubular reactor

Lauric acid

1.5:1 of 2-ethyl hexanol

15 kg Amberlyst-16

80

10

-

92.2

Juera-Ong et al.41

Batch

Esterification

Five-neck round bottom flask

(300 rpm)

Sludge palm oil

44.7 wt% methanol

38.6 wt% Amberlyst-15

60

6

89.9

88.2

In this study

Continuous

Esterification

HCRs in series

Palm fatty acid distillate

4:1

2.67 wt% Amberlyst-15

60

2.2

82.48

89.76