Experimental study, consistency and thermodynamic modeling of the multiphase equilibrium of the methyl palmitate + methanol + glycerol systems

• Grant number: 21/12279-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Felipe Arce Castillo
• Grantee: Maria Carolina Barbosa Silveira
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Transesterification reactions are common in the production of biodiesel and mono- and diglycerides. Knowledge of phase equilibrium conditions is essential to determine operating conditions (reactor and separation process). This research project aims to study the multiphase behavior: vapor-liquid (VLE) and vapor-liquid-liquid (ELLV) equilibria: experimental, thermodynamic consistency, and thermodynamic modeling of the methyl palmitate + methanol + glycerol system at 101.3 kPa. The experimental process will be carried out in equipment whose main component is the modified Othmer ebulliometer with recirculation. Once the equilibrium is reached, the analysis will be done through the refraction indices and densities. Previously, calibration curves will be built. The thermodynamic consistency of the experimental data will be performed to determine if the data is consistent or not, from a thermodynamic point of view. For thermodynamic modeling, the T-Bubble method and the Gamma-Phi (VLE) and Gamma-Gamma-Phi (VLLE) approaches will be used. Activity coefficients, gamma_i, will be obtained using the NRTL model and the fugacity coefficient, phi_i, will be obtained using the Peng-Robinson + Volume Translation (PR-TV) equation. The experimental data will be compared with those obtained in the modeling, in terms of deviations in the glycerol phase compositions and the bubble temperature, and phase diagrams (triangular prisms), showing the bubble and dew curves at 101.3 kPa, will be drawn.(AU)