Transesterfication of vegetable oils and methanol with alkaline catalyst was carried out to produce biodiesel fuel by continuous process. The process consists of two static mixers, one tubular reactor and two coolers and gave 96~99% of methyl ester yield from soybean oil and rapeseed oil. Experimental variables were the molar ratios of methanol to vegetable oil, alkaline catalyst contents, flow rates, mixer element number. The optimum ranges of operating variables were as follows; reaction temperature of 70℃, l:6 of molar ratio of methanol to oil, O.4%(w/w) sodium hydroxide based on oil, static mixer elements number of 24 and 4 min. residence time.

• 현영진 | Hyun, Young-Jin
• 김혜성 | Kim, Hae-Sung