METHOD FOR OBTAINING A BIODIESEL FROM VEGETABLE OILS OF VARIABLE ACIDITY DEGREE IN A CONTINUOUS SYSTEM AND BIODIESEL FUEL OBTAINED
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method for obtaining a biodiesel in a continuous system from vegetable oils of variable degree of acidity, whereby, in a first step, a specific blend of vegetable oils of variable degree of acidity and methanol or ethanol are subjected to pressure and to heat in a multiple and continuous horizontal modular tube reactor, in the presence of a strong acid as catalyst, until a vegetable oil with an acidity of less than 1% is obtained. In a second step, this oil is transesterified by being blended with sodium or potassium methoxide, the glycerol being separated out, leaving glycerol on the one hand and, on the other, biodiesel, which, once purified and scrubbed, will be suitable for use in engines. The number of modules, both in the first and in the second step, is a function of the system'"'"'s capacity.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1-11. -11. (canceled)
-
12. Method of production of biodiesel from oils of variable acidity comprising the following steps:
-
a) acidic esterification of the oils of variable acidity with methanol or ethanol in stoichiometric proportions from 1;
50 to 1;
300 relative to the amount of free fatty acids present in the oils, in the presence of a strong acid as catalyst at the rate of 1 to 10 grams strong acid per kilogram of oil, until the resulting mixture has less than 1°
acidity;b) transesterification or alkaline esterification of the mixture obtained in step a) with sodium or potassium methoxide in stoichiometric proportions from 1;
6 to 1;
50 at a temperature between 45 and 105°
C., whereby a mixture of biodiesel and glycerol together with salts of the acids used and the excess alcohol is obtained;c) decantation of the mixture obtained in step b), whereby the glycerol phase together with salts of the acids used and most of the excess alcohol is separated from the biodiesel phase mixed with minors amount of alcohol, and d) purification of the biodiesel mixed with minors amount of alcohol obtained in step c) by passing the cited mixture through a heat exchanger at a temperature of about 80°
C., whereby the alcohol gases are separated and a purified biodiesel is obtained, characterized in that the method further comprises the following steps;e) evacuating the gases produced in step a) to a distillation column whereby the alcohol is condensed for reintroduction in step a); f) transferring the mixture of glycerol together with salts of the acids used and most of the excess alcohol obtained in step c) to a distillation column whereby the alcohol is recovered for reintroduction in step a); and g) conveying the alcohol gases separated in step d) to a distillation column whereby the alcohol is recovered for reintroduction in step a), so that the method is operated continuously. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification