| Fourier Transform Near Infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy can analyze key bioethanol and biodiesel process streams for multiple components in seconds. The ability to quantify trace contaminants in biodiesel and the level of sugars and ethanol in the bioethanol fermentation broth are important for increasing yield and ensuring final product quality. FT-NIR generates the results (FAME, tri-,di-, and monoglycerides ) needed for making adjustments to optimize the transesterification reaction for making biodiesel. It also produces results (DP4+, DP3, DP2, glucose and ethanol) needed for making adjustments to key parameters for optimizing the conversion of sugar to ethanol for the fermentation process. The use of FT-NIR simplifies the testing protocol for biofuel plants since it can replace multiple pieces of equipment, eliminate disposable lab supplies and significantly reduce equipment maintenance. The ability to analyze samples in-line, on-line, at-line or in the lab by FT-NIR allows each biofuel production facility to set up the ideal monitoring protocol for their process. In-line or online analysis provides real-time data that plant personnel can use to make adjustments to the process very quickly often times using closed-loop control strategies. Data from the FT-NIR can be easily transmitted to a DCS, SCADA, LIMS or data historian to allow for trending or statistical processing. FT-NIR applications in the biofuels industry include:
- Bioethanol—fermentation broth analysis by reflection using sample cup spinner or fiber optic probe for higher sugars, dextrose, ethanol and glycerol
- Bioethanol—corn, DDGS, MDGS, WDGS or distiller solubles using sample cup spinner for Moisture (Dry Matter), Protein, Fat and Starch
- Bioethanol—ethanol and water concentration after distillation by transmission
- Biodiesel—transmission analysis for contaminants (glycerin, glycerides, FFA, water and methanol)
| Design of ExperimentInstrument: Antaris EX with fiber optic transmission probe
Technique: Inline Biodiesel Transesterification Reaction Analysis by Liquid Transmission
Rationale: Optimizing the yield of biodiesel (FAME) from the transesterification reaction contributes directly to the profits of the plant. Using inline FT-NIR analysis to produce real-time concentration data for the by-products of the reaction (glycerol, mono-, di-, and triglyceride) allows for adjustments to increase biodiesel yield.
Samples: Transesterification reaction samples were collected over several weeks with the emphasis on grabbing samples during process upsets. This was done to account for as much process and by-product concentration variation in the calibration. FT-NIR spectra were collected at the same time as samples were grabbed from a sample point located near the fiber optic probe. The samples were run by GC for glycerol and glyceride concentration. The calibration set contained 50 standards collected with a wide variation in all component concentrations. |
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