K.  Nuithitikul, A.  Khuenpetch, C.  Siripatana, W.  Koo-Amornpattana, 
    Biodiesel Production from Palm Oil Using a Downflow Bubble Column Reactor,
    Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences,
    Volume 12,Issue 8,
    2017,
    Pages 2214-2219,
    ISSN 1816-949x,
    jeasci.2017.2214.2219,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=jeasci.2017.2214.2219)
    Abstract: The objectives of this research were to develop a biodiesel production process from palm oil using
a downflow bubble column reactor and study the effects of reaction temperature, methanol-to-oil molar ratio
and catalyst (NaOH) concentration. The conversion of triglycerides to methyl esters was determined by nuclear
magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The optimum condition for transesterification of palm oil and methanol
catalyzed by NaOH was found to be: methanol-to-oil ratio of 6:1, NaOH concentration of 0.5 wt.% and reaction
temperature of 50 °C. At the optimum condition, the conversion of 95.7% was achieved. A mathematical model
was developed based on three-steps first-order kinetics with a mass transfer factor to describe the experimental
results. It was found that the developed mathematical model well described the production of biodiesel using
a downflow bubble column reactor.
    Keywords: Palm oil;transesterification;biodiesel;mathematical model;bubble column reactor