Abstract:
<p align="justify"> This manuscript deals with the production of biodiesel from triglycerides (TG); soybean oil was the primary raw material. The transesterification reaction was used to convert triglycerides into monoalkyl esters. The catalytic mixture of methanol and potassium hydroxide (KOH) was used in the transesterification reaction. The anhydrous refining of biodiesel was used to reduce side reactions during the purification process. The treatment of glycerol by acidification with H3PO4 and its subsequent purification was a convenience process aiming to form the desired byproducts. The conversion of residual fatty acids to soaps through the saponification reaction or into esters through the esterification reaction with H₂SO₄ can be done by observing the market of those products. The monitoring of the transesterification reaction in real-time with laser spectroscopy allows the variation of the temperature during the reaction process without losing the reaction endpoint. The use of only one reaction vessel for the accomplishment of several unit operations aiming the reducing of the reaction time in the production process was well succeeded. The main resulting products are biodiesel, glycerol, fertilizer, and soaps. As expected the biodiesel can be used as a source of energy, the glycerol can be further refined but this process was not explored at this manuscript, the resulting salts can be used as fertilizers, and the soups can be sold and used as a soup. </p>