Venturi: hydrodynamic cavitation device to accelerate biodiesel synthesis

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of Venturi in the synthesis of biodiesel from residual edible oil in a methyl route. For this purpose, an experimental apparatus consisting of a 5.2 L tank and a Venturi device designed to produce the cavitation phenomenon was constructed in laboratory scale. Biodiesel production was evaluated at three different Venturi inlet pressures: 4.4; 2.9; and 1.4 bar. Methyl esters contents were determined by gas chromatography. Biodiesel synthesis time with the Venturi device was 23.2 seconds (or 4.5 seconds per liter of biodiesel produced), which is equivalent to a single cycle of the system at maximum pressure (4.4 bar). In this condition, the yield of the ester contents was greater than 98%. There is no other case of synthesis as fast as that found in this work. The biodiesel characterization showed that the parameters kinematic viscosity, acidity index, cold clogging point, and specific mass are within the limits established by National Agency of Petroleum Natural Gas and Biofuels (Agência Nacional de Petróleo). The use of Venturi, as a cavitation device, was shown to be more efficient in biodiesel synthesis than other devices, such as orifice plates.