Apparatus and method for producing biodiesel fuel
First Claim
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1. A process for the production of biodiesel grade, fatty acid alkyl esters comprising:
- (a) reacting triglyceride, alcohol and catalyst in a first reaction zone to form a first intermediate reacted mixture which includes trans-esterified fatty acid ester product, glycerol, unreacted alcohol, and unreacted and partially reacted triglyceride;
(b) removing glycerol and unreacted alcohol from the first intermediate reacted mixture to form a second intermediate reacted mixture;
(c) feeding the second intermediate reacted mixture to a second reaction zone;
(d) adding a fresh feed of alcohol and catalyst into the second reaction zone to form fatty acid alkyl esters and glycerol from the second intermediate reacted mixture to form a third intermediate reacted mixture;
(e) separating alcohol, glycerol and a fraction of the fatty acid alkyl esters from the third intermediate reacted mixture; and
(f) recycling alcohol, glycerol and fatty acid alkyl esters recovered from the third intermediate reacted mixture to the first reaction zone.
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Abstract
A continuous method and apparatus for making biodiesel fuel from glycerides such as vegetable oil employs a two-stage reactor provided with recycle. Yields of 95% and greater are readily achieved in a continuous mode of operation.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A process for the production of biodiesel grade, fatty acid alkyl esters comprising:
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(a) reacting triglyceride, alcohol and catalyst in a first reaction zone to form a first intermediate reacted mixture which includes trans-esterified fatty acid ester product, glycerol, unreacted alcohol, and unreacted and partially reacted triglyceride; (b) removing glycerol and unreacted alcohol from the first intermediate reacted mixture to form a second intermediate reacted mixture; (c) feeding the second intermediate reacted mixture to a second reaction zone; (d) adding a fresh feed of alcohol and catalyst into the second reaction zone to form fatty acid alkyl esters and glycerol from the second intermediate reacted mixture to form a third intermediate reacted mixture; (e) separating alcohol, glycerol and a fraction of the fatty acid alkyl esters from the third intermediate reacted mixture; and (f) recycling alcohol, glycerol and fatty acid alkyl esters recovered from the third intermediate reacted mixture to the first reaction zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for the production of biodiesel fuel fatty acid alkyl esters comprising:
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(a) feeding a fatty acid triglyceride, an alkanol and catalyst to a first tubular reaction zone; (b) transesterifying the fatty acid triglyceride in the first tubular reaction zone to produce a first intermediate stream comprising fatty acid alkyl ester and glycerol; (c) removing glycerol from said first intermediate stream to produce a second intermediate stream; (d) feeding the second intermediate stream along with additional catalyst and additional alkanol to a second tubular reaction zone; (e) transesterifying fatty acid triglyceride to produce fatty acid alkyl ester in said second tubular reaction zone to produce a third intermediate stream; (f) separating the third intermediate stream into a crude product stream and an alkyl ester containing recycle stream; and (g) recycling the recycle stream to the first reaction zone, wherein the overall conversion of triglyceride to fatty acid alkyl ester in the process is greater than 95%. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus suitable for continuously producing biodiesel grade fatty acid alkyl esters comprising:
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(a) a first tubular reactor adapted for receiving and reacting a mixture of an alkanol, triglyceride and catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure to form a first product stream including fatty acid alkyl esters, glycerol, alkanol, triglycerides and optionally monoglycerides and diglycerides; (b) a first separator configured to receive the first product stream and separate glycerol and alkanol from the first product stream and to provide a second product stream comprising fatty acid alkyl esters, triglycerides and optionally monoglycerides and diglycerides; (c) a second tubular reactor coupled to the first separator configured to receive the second product stream and adapted for reacting the second product stream with additional alkanol at elevated temperature and pressure to generate additional fatty acid alkyl esters in a third product stream; (d) a second separator adapted to generate a fourth product stream comprising alkanol and fatty acid alkanol esters from the third product stream, the second separator also being configured to provide a recycle stream from the third product stream including alkanol, glycerin and not less than 20% by volume fatty acid alkyl ester; and (e) a recycle line adapted to provide the recycle stream to the first tubular reactor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification