Code
179P1312
Duration
01 June 2012 → 31 May 2015
Funding
Private funding via IWT/VLAIO
Promotor
Research disciplines
-
Natural sciences
- Analytical chemistry
- Macromolecular and materials chemistry
-
Engineering and technology
- Automotive engineering
- Catalysis and reacting systems engineering
- Chemical product design and formulation
- General chemical and biochemical engineering
- Process engineering
- Separation and membrane technologies
- Transport phenomena
- Other (bio)chemical engineering
Keywords
kinetics
glycerol
propylene glycol
hydrogenolysis
Project description
The transesterification of triglycerides to methyl esters inevitably leads to a 10wt% yield of glycerol. Even if this glycerol has direct applications, it can be upgraded towards propylene glycol. A proper understanding of the dominant factors on the kinetics of this reaction as well as on byproduct formation and catalyst stability is aimed at.