METHODS OF PURIFYING BIODIESEL FUELS
First Claim
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1. A method of preparing a biodiesel fuel from triglyceride oils comprising:
- mixing a triglyceride oil with a first acid to form an acidified oil;
mixing the acidified oil with a first portion of alcohol to form an alcohol-oil mixture;
mixing the alcohol-oil mixture with a base and a second portion of alcohol to form a methyl ester solution;
mixing the methyl ester solution with a second acid to form an acidified methyl ester solution;
mixing the acidified methyl ester solution with an aqueous salt solution to form an emulsion;
exposing the emulsion to an electric field to form a broken emulsion; and
,recovering a biodiesel fuel from the broken emulsion.
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Abstract
The invention provides methods of synthesizing and purifying methyl esters and specifically biodiesel fuels. The methods include acid-catalyzed transesterification of a triglyceride source followed by formation of an acidic emulsion that is subjected to an electric field to break the emulsion and recover the purified methyl esters. After recovery, the purified methyl esters may be used as a highly purified and stable biodiesel fuel without further treatment. The electric field may be efficiently applied to the acidic emulsion in an electrochemical reactor such as an electrocoagulation chamber.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of preparing a biodiesel fuel from triglyceride oils comprising:
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mixing a triglyceride oil with a first acid to form an acidified oil;
mixing the acidified oil with a first portion of alcohol to form an alcohol-oil mixture;mixing the alcohol-oil mixture with a base and a second portion of alcohol to form a methyl ester solution; mixing the methyl ester solution with a second acid to form an acidified methyl ester solution; mixing the acidified methyl ester solution with an aqueous salt solution to form an emulsion; exposing the emulsion to an electric field to form a broken emulsion; and
,recovering a biodiesel fuel from the broken emulsion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of purifying a solution of methyl esters comprising:
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mixing a fluid comprising methyl esters with an aqueous salt solution to form an emulsion; exposing the emulsion to an electric field to form a broken emulsion; and
,recovering a purified solution of methyl esters from the broken emulsion. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A biodiesel fuel produced by a method comprising
mixing a triglyceride oil with a first acid to form an acidified oil; -
mixing the acidified oil with a first portion of alcohol to form an alcohol-oil mixture; mixing the alcohol-oil mixture with a base and a second portion of alcohol to form a solution of methyl esters; mixing the solution of methyl esters with a second acid to form an acidified solution of methyl esters; mixing the acidified solution of methyl esters with an aqueous solution comprising at least one salt to form an emulsion; exposing the emulsion to an electric field to form a broken emulsion; and recovering a biodiesel fuel from the broken emulsion.
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Specification