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February 26, 2007
Researchers Use Ultrasonic Processing for Fast Biodiesel Production
Researchers at Mississippi State University report that ultrasonic processing used in biodiesel production delivers a biodiesel yield in excess of 99% in five minutes or less, compared to one hour or more using conventional batch reactor systems. The work is described in the current issue of the journal Energy & Fuels.Ultrasonication can also help to reduce the separation time from 5 to 10 hours required with conventional agitation) to less than 15 minutes, according to Hielscher, a small German company providing ultrasonic processing equipment for a variety of sonochemical applications, biodiesel production being one.
The ultrasonication also helps to decrease to amount of catalyst required by 50 to 60% due to the increased chemical activity in the presence of cavitation. Another benefit is the increase in purity of the glycerol.
This is an amazing improvement. Less time to process the fuel gives you a lot more in the way of efficiencies with dealing with the production process. As you recall, it wasn't too long ago that they are stared using ultrasonics to improve the processing of ethanol as well. That upped the production of Ethanol by 30% per bushel with the application of sound waves. This is why it's so important that we push these technologies forward. No technology we use today started out as efficient or as good as it is today. Innovation comes from trying to use something that you've never used before. Biofuels will keep getting better and better until the point that there isn't a need for America to be held hostage by greedy Republicans and the Oil companies that own them.
Read more over at Green Car Congress.
Posted by Jamison at February 26, 2007 2:01 PM
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