| BIODIESEL PRODUCTION |
Biodiesel can be produced through several well established processes. GREEN POWER CORPORATION uses a base catalyzed transesterification of palm oil with methanol because the chemical reaction is quick and yields a high conversion (98%) with minimal side reactions. It also occurs at lower temperature and pressure than other processes, resulting in lower capital investment and operating costs. The current plant capacity lies at 200,000 litres biodiesel per day or 54,420 tons per year.
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GREEN POWER CORPORATION’s leading production technology produces fuel that meets the international quality standards EN 14214 and ASTM D 6751-03 and is certified by PTT as well as the Chulalongkorn University. Our production process does not generate toxic or hazardous byproducts and has minimal environmental impact due to the absence of air and water waste streams. The entire biodiesel production process is a closed cycle of material and consists of the following basic steps:
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TRANSESTERIFICATION
Technically, biodiesel is methyl ester, which is formed by transesterification of crude palm oil with methanol in the presence of a catalyst of sodium hydroxide. First methanol and the catalyst are premixed. When both the catalyst-mix and the crude palm oil are settled in their respective tanks, they are sent at the correct flow rates to a biodiesel reaction vessel. The vessel with the mixture is then heated, which causes each of the crude palm oil molecules to split into three individual fatty acid methyl ester chains and a free glycerine molecule. Glycerin and methanol have changed places chemically.
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| SEPARATION OF METHYL ESTER AND METHANOL RECOVERY |
Once the reaction is complete, the much denser glycerin phase has settled to the bottom, leaving biodiesel on the top, which allows it to be decanted. Furthermore, the surplus methanol in each phase is removed by distillation and passed back into the cycle.
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METHYL ESTER CLEANING
Separated from the glycerin, biodiesel is purified by washing gently with warm water to remove residual catalyst, soaps, or other water-soluble impurities. Then it is dried in order to remove the water and eventually sent to a biodiesel holding tank. As it now has attained its full premium quality and the optimal flowing behavior, it is ready to be delivered to our customers.
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GLYCERIN NEUTRALIZATION
The byproduct of the transesterification process is glycerin, which usually accounts for 10% of the output. It is sent to an evaporation unit, where unused catalyst and soaps are neutralized with an acid and recycled back into the process. The remaining pure glycerin has a concentration of about 82-85% (technical grade glycerin) and can thus be sold as crude glycerin.
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