Esterification of Oleic Acid for Biodiesel Production Using a Semibatch Atomization Apparatus

Table 2

Conversion of oleic acid in a 2³ factorial design with triplicate in the center point.

Run	Oleic acid flow rate (g/min)	Atomization pressure (kPa)	Temperature (K)	Conversion (%)
1	1.3 (−1)	50 (−1)	323 (−1)	57.2
2	3.9 (+1)	50 (−1)	323 (−1)	44.4
3	1.3 (−1)	150 (+1)	323 (−1)	63.8
4	3.9 (+1)	150 (+1)	323 (−1)	49.4
5	1.3 (−1)	50 (−1)	343 (+1)	83.2
6	3.9 (+1)	50 (−1)	343 (+1)	71.9
7	1.3 (−1)	150 (+1)	343 (+1)	86.7
8	3.9 (+1)	150 (+1)	343 (+1)	75.8
9	2.6 (0)	100 (0)	333 (0)	69.5
10	2.6 (0)	100 (0)	333 (0)	68.9
11	2.6 (0)	100 (0)	333 (0)	68.6

The coded values were placed in parentheses. The esterification experiments were conducted using a dual-fluid nozzle atomization system. These runs were carried out with 0.7% (mol/mol) sulfuric acid as the catalyst, a recirculation flow rate of 3.1 L/min, and a reaction time of 120 minutes.