Kinetic Modeling of Supercritical Interesterification with Heterogeneous Catalyst to Produce Methyl Esters Considering Degradation Effects

Abstract

In this study, it has been proposed a process model for catalytic supercritical interesterification considering degradation reactions at high temperatures. Kinetic parameters of soybean oil and methyl acetate (MeA) reaction using Ca–Mg–Al mixed oxide as catalyst considering main and intermediate reactions were estimated. Experimental data varied between 200 and 350 °C, a catalyst concentration of 2, 5, and 10 wt % and molar ratio (MeA:Oil) of 20:1, 40:1 and 60:1. Degradation reactions of glyceride esters and triacetin were investigated and improved model performance. In order to avoid higher degradation rates, the presence of catalyst induces the system to achieve optimum conversions at lower temperatures, between 300 and 325 °C. For statistical validation of optimized parameters, the confidence intervals and the correlation coefficient between parameters were calculated. Proposed kinetic and process model fitted the experimental results very well.