In
the production of biodiesel, centrifuges are used.
There
are two types of centrifuges that can be found in biodiesel
production plants: decanters and separators.
Separators,
for example, are found in the separation of glycerin during the
esterification process (a condensation reaction where two reactants
like an alcohol and an acid form an ester as a reaction product) or
in the washing of biodiesel.
The
decanter, on the other hand, is used for the separation of glycerin
from precipitated salts such as potassium sulfate and fatty acids
(tricanter) or during the washing of the salts themselves (decanter).
These
processes require machines with explosion-proof protections.