Simulation of triglyceride transestrification reaction to biodiesel inside a membrane reactor

Biodiesel production in a membrane reactor at steady state condition was investigated numerically. Because of its advantages, transesterification method was used to produce of biodiesel. The reactor was assumed isothermal. Tube and sell side of reactor component mole balance equations were solved by Runge Kutta fourth order. The results showed that the material velocity inside the tube is more effective on reactor conversion than that inside the reactor shell. Conversion of triglyceride was 3.8 fold increased with 75% and 50% reduction in average velocity in tube and shell side, respectively. The lengths of less than 6 m for membrane reactor, optimized to produce high-purity product.