Eurofins QTA to Introduce In-Line Analysis for Biodiesel Production

摘要

Biodiesel quality is important to maintain the integrity of the RFS2 program. Therefore, biodiesel producers have taken all the resources to implement a reliable quality control system. In most of these practices, samples are taken to the quality control lab from the test points of the production line. Important chemical or physical parameters have to be analyzed by skilled chemists or technicians, including samples from transesterification, methanol, glycerin and B100. The analytical results are used to monitor the process and reaction and, if necessary, fine-tunings or corrections are made. Oftentimes, these samples are at elevated temperature and need to be handled cautiously. Commonly there is a delay before analysis results are available for the operator to make the processing decisions (e.g., adjusting the amount of catalyst, changing temperature, pressure, flow rate, etc.), or the end-point determination of the transesterification reaction. Biodiesel producers are looking for a more effective analytical technology with constant monitoring directly at the critical test points (i.e., in-line analysis).