BIOFUEL FROM SEEDS, EXTRACTION OIL AND ITS EFFICIENCY

The increasing global demand for renewable energy has stimulated extensive research into biodiesel production from vegetable oils via continuous flow methodologies, due to their superior efficiency, safety, and scalability compared to conventional batch processes. This study explores the synthesis of biodiesel from various oil sources—such as palm, soybean, jatropha, canola, sunflower, rapeseed, and cottonseed—employing a wide range of reactors including microtube, bubble column, fixed-bed, membrane, slit-channel, vortex, and reactive distillation systems. The research aimed to compare the conversion efficiencies, reaction conditions, and catalyst performances under different operational parameters and technologies. Methodologically, experiments were performed with both catalytic and non-catalytic processes, using acid, base, and enzyme catalysts, as well as catalyst-free supercritical conditions. Key results demonstrated that continuous flow reactors, particularly those enhanced by microwave, ultrasound, or co-solvent-assisted systems, provided high biodiesel yields (up to 99.9%) at significantly reduced reaction times and energy consumption. The findings underscore the critical role of flow dynamics, temperature control, reactor design, and catalyst selection in optimizing biodiesel production. The study concludes that integrating continuous flow technologies offers a viable path toward industrial-scale, sustainable biodiesel synthesis, contributing to energy security and environmental preservation through efficient valorization of renewable resources.