MULTI-ENERGY OPTIMIZATION PROCESS: BIODIESEL PRODUCTION THROUGH ULTRASOUND AND MICROWAVES

摘要

The an ever increasing demand for fuels and new energy sources is forcing a growing need for new, innovative concepts of alternative and renewable energy sources. To meet this demand and become competitive with fossil fuels, industry must increase production of renewable energy while decreasing energy and costs of producing them. One such source of renewable energy, which has been changing rapidly in North America, is biodiesel. A novel processing approach developed at The Pennsylvania State University leverages high intensity, focused ultrasound and microwave heating to improve the material and energy efficiencies of the production of biodiesel. Technical approaches towards technology scale-up will be discussed along with the validation studies at industrial scales.