Kinetics of the non-catalytic transesterification of soybean oil

A study on the thermal non-catalytic transesterification of soybean oil with methanol is presented. Experiments have been carried out at 220 and 235°C with various methanol/oil ratios. A reaction mechanism is proposed and the corresponding kinetic model has fitted the experimental data. The rate constants of the kinetic model have been determined. The main process characteristics are discussed.