USE OF REACTIVE METALS IN THE PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL

摘要

For a variety of reasons, biofuels derived from a wide range of raw materials, are in higher demand. Biodiesel has several advantages over other biofuels. These include direct substitution for fossil fuels into existing internal combustion engines, an existing distribution network, and a relatively simple conversion technology. In the last few years, many papers have been presented championing one technology over another; however, these papers do not typically address the materials of construction for various components in the production scheme. Many of the raw materials and subsequent co-products are benign to most common materials of construction. Depending on the process scheme, certain process steps may present much more corrosive conditions. For instance, if hydrochloric acid is used in the glycerin loop, the choice of materials of construction is quite limited. This paper presents data for both titanium and zirconium alloys for possible use in biodiesel production.