Hi-

I'm hoping someone can help me with this calculation. I want to determine the amount of water produced per mole of FFA (let's assume Oleic Acid) during the acid esterification reaction. I will be using conc. Sulfuric Acid as the catalyst.

I am trying to determine how quickly the methanol will be fouled by water formation. And, if there is any opportunity to recycle this stream- and in what concentration with pure methanol.


Thanks,

Nick

Well, I did some investigating and found that 1 mole of FFA, when esterified, produces 1 mole of Water. That would roughly equate to 0.064 grams of Water per gram of FFA (or roughly 1/16 by weight). Or, 0.064 Liters of Water per kilogram of FFA.

For 1,000 Liters of oil with 10% FFA, the esterification reaction would produce 5.78 Liters of Water.

If someone could check those numbers, I would be greatful. I'm not a chemist, I just play one in real life.

-Nick

Many moons ago neutral posted that the water created was 1/15 of the FFA.