Transesterification

Transesterification (pronunciation: trans-es-ter-ifi-kay-shun) is a chemical reaction that involves the exchange of an ester group with an alcohol from a carboxylic acid or another ester. This process is commonly used in the production of biodiesel.

Etymology

The term "transesterification" is derived from the prefix "trans-", meaning "across" or "beyond", and "esterification", which refers to the process of forming an ester. The term was first used in the early 20th century.

Process

Transesterification is a reversible reaction, meaning it can proceed in both directions. It involves the exchange of an ester group with an alcohol from a carboxylic acid or another ester. The reaction is typically catalyzed by a strong acid or base. The process is commonly used in the production of biodiesel, where vegetable oils or animal fats are reacted with methanol or ethanol to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) or fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), respectively.

Related Terms

Ester: A chemical compound derived from an acid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one -OH (hydroxyl) group is replaced by an -O-alkyl (alkoxy) group.
Alcohol: A class of organic compounds that carry at least one hydroxyl functional group (-OH) bound to their aliphatic substructure.
Carboxylic Acid: Organic compounds that contain a carboxyl group (C(=O)OH).
Acid: A molecule or ion capable of donating a proton (hydrogen ion H+), or, alternatively, capable of forming a covalent bond with an electron pair.
Base: Chemical species that donate electrons, accept protons, or release hydroxide (OH-) ions in solution.
Biodiesel: A form of diesel fuel derived from plants or animals and consisting of long-chain fatty acid esters.