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The present study deals with the development of a biodiesel production reactor based on pressurized ultrasonic cavitation technique. Transesterification of Jatropha oil takes place by passing low-frequency ultrasonic irradiation in the reaction mixture flowing at pressurized conditions in the sonochemical reactor. Reaction variables such as reaction time, molar ratio, catalyst concentration, and pressure of the reaction mixture were investigated to find the optimal parameters for biodiesel production. The energy requirement decreases with increase in pressure. Very low value of Specific Energy Consumption (0.018 kWh/kg) and significantly high value of Energy Use Index (598.83) are obtained when the pressure of reaction mixture is 15 bar. Increasing the pressure thereafter, leads to nominal gains. Ultrasonic irradiation at high-pressure condition has an additional advantage of rapid reaction and lower requirement of alcohol to oil molar ratio and catalyst concentration. Fifteen bar pressure is optimal for biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the development of a combined reactor involving an ultrasonic reactor (UR) and a mechanical stirrer (MS) for the transesterification of vegetable oil, extracted from semal (Bombax Ceiba). Reaction variables such as reaction time, methanol to oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, and ultrasonic irradiation power were investigated to find the optimal parameters for maximizing biodiesel yield. The optimum conditions with the combined process reactor (CPR) are: 30 min reaction time, 4.5/1 molar ratio, 0.5% catalyst, and 40% of the maximum ultrasonic power with a maximum yield of 96.4% as compared to 110 min, 6/1 molar ratio, and 1% catalyst with a maximum yield of 90.7% for the MS, and 40 min, 4.5/1 molar ratio, 0.75% catalyst, and 50% of the maximum ultrasonic power with a maximum yield of 92.1% in a UR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the production of biodiesel using vegetable oil, extracted from Deodar (Cedrus deodara) in various types of ultrasonic reactors. The biodiesel so produced is tested for its property and stability. Biodiesel yield is optimized as a function of reaction time for various ultrasonic reactors. The biodiesel production through the triple-frequency flow cell ultrasonic reactor is found the most energy efficient when compared to other types of ultrasonic reactors. Biodiesel so produced from deodar oil is stable under atmospheric conditions with its various physicochemical properties within the range of acceptable limits of the diesel engine. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]