The effect of operating parameters of hydrodynamic cavitation - assisted alkaline catalyzed transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol on the degree of triglyceride conversion

The effect of operating parameters such as reaction mixture inlet pressure p (1) (101.3-1013.2 kPa), methanol to oil molar ratio M (1) (3-12), the concentration of catalyst C ( c ) (0.0-1.0 wt%), temperature T (25-50 degrees C) and the number of passes of the reaction mixture through the venturi type hydrodynamic cavitation reactor n (1-12) on alkali-catalyzed transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol assisted by hydrodynamic cavitation (ACTC) on the value of the degree of triglyceride conversion (DTC) was investigated. ACTC was performed by the venturi-type hydrodynamic cavitation reactor (VCR) of our construction. It was found that the values of DTC increase with the increase in p (1), M (1), C ( c,) and n, and decrease with the increase in T. Cavitation yield (CY) values were calculated. The ACTC was proved to be the simplest, fastest, and most highly energy-efficient current technology for the production of biodiesel.