Heterogeneously catalysed ethanolysis of sunflower oil in the presence of propylene glycol, ethyl acetate and diethyl ether as cosolvents

Abstract

A heterogeneous reaction process using propylene glycol (PEG), ethyl acetate and diethyl ether as cosolvents for the transesterification of sunflower oil with ethanol in the presence of calcium oxide as a catalyst has been developed. Significant results were obtained with propylene glycol as a cosolvent. Under determined reaction con- ditions (CaO concentration, based on the oil weight 1.3736 mol∙dm-3 ; temperature 70 °C; and ethanol-to-oil molar ratio 12:1), the conversion of sunflower oil to fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) exceeded 98% after 120 min, which was 2 times faster than transesterification of sunflower oil without a cosolvent. After initially enhanced ethanolysis, after 180 min ethyl acetate and diethyl ether negatively influenced the reaction rate and the FAEE yield.