Year 3 Chem Eng: Biodiesel Synthesis Answer Sheet

Student Name......................................................................... Locker Number...........

Please complete this answer sheet, which relates to ‘Preparation od Biodiesel

from Waste Edible Oil’.

You should show this sheet to a demonstrator before you leave the laboratory
in order to have it marked.

Record the mass of biodiesel and the mass of glycerol waste from your experiment.

Explain the observed physical characteristics of your products.

Mark (out of 2) -----

Assume that the major chemical component of the waste edible oil is triolein (the
triglyceride formed with oleic acid), of chemical composition C57H104O6, give reasons
for the apparent molar ratio of methanol/oil used in your experiment.

Mark (out of 2) -----

Why was the reflux undertaken at 65 oC? Explain the choice of the mass used for
the catalyst in this reaction.

Mark (out of 1) -----

 Year 3 Chem Eng: Biodiesel Synthesis Answer Sheet

Why may the byproduct to your synthesis be of commercial value?

Mark (out of 1) -----

In this experiment, you have made biodiesel through transesterification, to afford a

FAME, methyl oleate (C19H36O2).

Rationalise the argument that the reduced ester would afford a more environmentally
sustainable biodiesel product, even at slightly higher economic cost.

Mark (out of 6) -----