Synthesis of Biodiesel from Oils using Sonochemical Reactor: An experimental study with the application of Optimization Techniques

The high energy demand in an industrialized world as well as in the domestic sector and pollution problem caused due to the wide spread use of fossil fuels makes it necessary to develop the renewable energy sources/fuels with lower environmental impact than the conventional ones. An alternative fuel must be technically feasible, economically competitive, environmentally acceptable and readily available. Research into finding alternative to petroleum based fuel especially in terms of biodiesel has been on the forefront. The present work reports the use of sonochemical reactor as a technique for intensification of biodiesel synthesis. Use of sonochemical reactors can favor the reaction chemistry and propagation by way of enhanced mass transfer and inter phase mixing between the phases and also can lower the requirement of the severity of the operating conditions in terms of temperature and pressure. This work is aimed for utilization by researchers, industrialists’ and traditional businesses. Apart from this it will be especially relevant and useful for the students of Mechanical and Chemical engineering for carrying out research in this area.