Alkalinity and acidity levels are above the limits
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Could someone please explain to me in detail: why does an increase in alkali actually lead to an increase in acidity?
The main reason is that when an excess of base is added, a saponification reaction (a reaction between fats and bases) occurs in the main towers (the pressurized tower and the atmospheric pressure tower). During methanol distillation, at temperatures of 85–120°C, the base reacts with methyl formate in methanol to produce formic acid. Since the saponification reaction occurs faster than acid-base neutralization, an excess of base also causes the purified methanol to become acidic
The main reason is that when an excess of base is added, a saponification reaction (a reaction between fats and bases) occurs in the main towers (the pressurized tower and the atmospheric pressure tower). During methanol distillation, at temperatures of 85–120°C, the base reacts with methyl formate in methanol to produce formic acid. Since the saponification reaction occurs faster than acid-base neutralization, an excess of base also causes the purified methanol to become acidic
The saponification reaction produces formic acid, which is neutralized by alkalis; why then is it still acidic?
This is the reason for the reaction rate and the priority of certain reactions: first, the saponification reaction occurs preferentially at temperatures between 85°C and 120°C, followed by the acid-base neutralization reaction. As a result, the base reacts with the fat first, and this reaction occurs more rapidly than the reaction between base and acid, which leads to an acidic environment in the main tower
Oh, thank you for your detailed explanation!