Process NMR

Monitoring of a Biodiesel Transesterification Process with a TD-NMR Spectrometer

The 19.5 MHz Spintrack NMR analyzer was utilized to study a FAME biodiesel production reaction. The samples analyzed were:
  1. Used vegetable oil
  2. Partially transesterified biodiesel product (bad biodiesel)
  3. High yield FAME biodiesel product
  4. Glycerin by-product from the process
CPMG T2 decays were generated and then that data was processed with a inverse laplace transformation to produce T2 distribution profiles.
NMR Experiment explanation is given below:
Monitoring of a Biodiesel Transesterification Process with a TD-NMR Spectrometer
The CPMG data obtained on the four samples is shown below:
Monitoring of a Biodiesel Transesterification Process with a TD-NMR Spectrometer
Monitoring of a Biodiesel Transesterification Process with a TD-NMR Spectrometer
The T2 distribution profiles obtained by inverse Laplace transformation of the CPMG data are shown below:
Monitoring of a Biodiesel Transesterification Process with a TD-NMR Spectrometer
Monitoring of a Biodiesel Transesterification Process with a TD-NMR Spectrometer
Monitoring of a Biodiesel Transesterification Process with a TD-NMR Spectrometer
Plainly TD-NMR can play a role in monitoring the biodiesel production process.

For more information on this topic please contact:
John Edwards
Manager, Process and Analytical NMR Services
Process NMR Associates LLC,
87A Sand Pit Rd
Danbury, CT 06810, USA
Tel: (203) 744-5905
 
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