Biodiesel Production using Lewis Catalysts under Ultrasonic Activation

Biodiesel can be produced by transesterification of oil triglycerides, as well as by esterification of fatty acids using feedstock materials rich in free fatty acids)FFAs). Utilization of such feedstocks can gain substantial economical profit and solve a problem of disposal of residual raw materials. To find an effective method of biodiesel production from FFA, we developed esterification of FFAs under ultrasonic activation using Lewis acids as catalysts. Homologous catalyst BF₃ and heterogeneous AlCl₃ were highly effective in reactions of model FFAs methylation under ultrasonic activation, when the reaction yield reached 100 %. Ethylation at the same conditions was less successful.