Dra. Valdebenito-Escobar, Fabiola

It is a configurable thermal processing reactor that allows a variety of geometrical arrangements to provide a wide range of operating conditions and effects on the productivity and composition of the products to be obtained. This reactor includes a reaction chamber and an internal vertical tree configuration with multiple fixing positions along its length. Each fixing position can removably accommodate at least one support with a central perforation, secured through locking means.

The invention presents a method for the production of biopropane from waste cooking oils (WCO). In particular, it consists of a new integrated process composed of a thermochemical stage of saponification of WCO to produce carboxylic acids which are pyrolyzed, and a biotechnological stage of glycerol processing for the generation of propanedioic acid as a precursor. In this manner, the process allows maximizing the production of biopropane using residual lipids as feedstock.