Reaction rate law model and reaction mechanism covering effect of plasma role on the transesterification of triglyceride and methanol to biodiesel over a continuous flow hybrid catalytic-plasma reactor.

This study investigated predictions of reaction mechanisms and reaction rate law model covering effect of plasma role on the heterogeneous catalytic reaction of triglyceride and methanol to produce biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester - FAME or fatty acid alkyl ester - FAAE) over a continuous flow hybrid catalytic-plasma reactor. This catalytic reaction was carried out in a dielectric-barrier discharge plasma reactor over 5 wt% KO/CaO-ZnO catalyst under conditions of atmospheric pressure and the reactor temperature of 65 °C. During the hybrid catalytic-plasma reaction system, the voltage, the catalyst diameter, and the Weight Hourly Space Velocity (WHSV) were kept constant at 5 kV, 5 mm, and 1.