Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Ultrasonic-Assisted Preparation of Biodiesel Products from Vegetable Oils
Published on: April 19, 2024
Transesterification of canola oil in mixed methanol/ethanol system and use of esters as lubricity additive
Mangesh G Kulkarni1, A K Dalai, N N Bakhshi
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratories, University of Saskatchewan, Research Annex Bldg., Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5C5.
Abstract:
Transesterification of canola oil was carried out with methanol, ethanol, and various mixtures of methanol/ethanol, keeping the molar ratio of oil to alcohol 1:6 and using KOH as a catalyst. Mixtures of alcohol increased the rate of transesterification reaction and produced methyl as well as ethyl esters. The increased rate was result of better solubility of oil in reaction mixture due to better solvent properties of ethanol than methanol and equilibrium due to methanol. With 3:3 molar ratio of methanol to ethanol {MEE (3:3)} the amount of ethyl ester formed was 50% that of methyl ester. Properties (acid value, viscosity, density) of all esters including mixed esters were within the limits of ASTM standards. Lubricities of these esters are in the order: ethyl ester>methyl ethyl ester>methyl ester.
Related Concept Videos
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Saponification
The reaction requires a base in stoichiometric amounts, which participates in the reaction and is not regenerated later. So, the base acts as a...
Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Overview
Alkylation of β-Diester Enolates: Malonic Ester Synthesis
Biofuels
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide

