Abstract: Biodiesel production is the process of converting animal fats and vegetable oils into methyl or ethyl esters utilizing a transesterification reaction. Free Fatty Acids (FFA), present in all animal fats and vegetable oils, interfere with the transesterification reaction and must be reduced to an acceptable level prior to the reaction. FFA content can vary from less than 1% in some vegetable oils, to greater than 50% in some waste oils. This presentation will cover the most common processes used by production facilities to reduce FFA content in the animal fats and vegetable oils, namely Acid Esterification, Glycerolysis, Saponification, and Steam Stripping. The presentation will discuss the specifics of each process, the benefits and drawbacks associated, and why the process would be selected by a production facility.
