TY - JOUR AB - Effects of residence time (3-12 min), stirrer speed (0-800 rpm), and NaOH concentration (0.25-1.0 wt% of oil) on the production performance of the designed 6-stage continuous reactor (2.2721) for transesterification of palm oil were investigated at molar ratio of methanol to oil of 6:1 and temperature of 60 degrees C. Higher stirrer speed increased the reaction rate up to an appropriate speed but excessive stirrer speed decreased the reaction rate. Inappropriate stirrer speed runs dramatically decreased the production capacity of the reactor. Higher NaOH concentration significantly increased reaction rate and production capacity of the reactor. The reactor had a residence time distribution equivalent to 5.98 ideal CSTRs in series and a production performance equivalent to a plug flow reactor. At NaOH of 1.0 wt% of oil, the reactor could produce saleable biodiesel within residence time of 6 min in which a production capacity was 17.31/h and a power consumption of stirrer was 0.6 kW/m(3). (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. AD - Prince Songkla Univ, Dept Mech Engn, Fac Engn, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand AN - WOS:000250663700030 AU - Leevijit, T. AU - Tongurai, C. AU - Prateepchaikl, G. AU - Wisutmethangoon, W. DA - Jan DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.11.052 IS - 1 J2 - Bioresource Technol KW - continuous reactor LA - English N1 - 227np PY - 2008 SN - 0960-8524 SP - 214-221 ST - Performance test of a 6-stage continuous reactor for palm methyl ester production T2 - Bioresource Technology TI - Performance test of a 6-stage continuous reactor for palm methyl ester production UR - ://WOS:000250663700030 VL - 99 ID - 18580 ER -