ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the reaction kinetics of various biofuel and chemical production processes related to biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, bio-oil, HMF and furfural and biochar production. Microwaves increase reaction temperatures which in turn promote higher reaction kinetics. Reduction in activation energy has been reported under microwave irradiation for numerous reactions involving organic and inorganic reactions with a few exceptions such as nucleation and growth. Microwave energy absorbed by a substance is converted into heat. The reaction kinetics of transesterification under microwave irradiation could be very different from conventional heating. Heat transfer in two-phase systems containing solid-liquid phases are common in oil extraction phases. The efficiency of extraction process is often hindered by heat and mass transfer limitations. Maxwell-Wagner interfacial microwave polarizations are a well documented phenomena that occur for heterogeneous systems. The catalytic effects on the microwave pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse were studied through the reaction performance, product distribution, and kinetic analysis.
