TRANSESTERIFICATION PROCESSES FOR VEGETABLE-OILS - A SIMPLE CONTROL METHOD OF METHYL-ESTER CONTENT

One of the main problems in the study or industrial application of transesterification processes for vegetable oils is how to measure the methyl ester content. In this work, a quick analytical method was developed for assessing the methyl ester content of purified ''fuel grade'' transesterification products by applying a simple correlation with viscosity. The correlation was tested on a wide range of samples with various methyl ester contents; the results were in agreement with the values measured by gas-chromatographic analysis. In a defined range of weight fractions the correlation allows for the determination of the methyl ester content of purified transesterification products by a single viscosity measurement. This method is especially suitable for process control purposes as it determines. the methyl ester content quickly and simply.