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Μοντελοποίηση και προσομοίωση καταλυτικής διεργασίας παραγωγής βιοντίζελ (Bachelor thesis)

Ραφτοπούλου, Κωνσταντίνα/ Raftopoulou, Konstantina

This thesis focuses on the production of biofuels from used cooking oils, on a laboratory and industrial scale. The chemical composition of the oils is analysed, with emphasis on triglycerides, and the transesterification process is investigated in depth. The study examines the parameters affecting transesterification performance (alcohol quantity and quality, temperature, reaction time, catalysts), with emphasis on alkaline homogeneous catalysis, while European and international biodiesel specifications are reported. Several thermodynamic models of local synthesis were evaluated for the thermodynamic analysis of the system, with the UNIQUAC model being preferred for the interpretation of the biodiesel-methanol-glycerol triadic system. The laboratory experiments were complemented by simulation software using, allowing quantitative comparison of the results (AARD). In conclusion, the work offers a comprehensive approach to biodiesel production from cooking waste, combining theoretical analysis, experimental work and simulation