Production of biodiesel, lubricants and fuel and lubricant additives
First Claim
1. A method of producing alkyl esters useful as biofuels and lubricants from triglyceride- or free fatty acid-containing substances, said method comprisinga) dissolving said triglyceride- or free fatty acid-containing substance in an organic solvent,b) combining the dissolved triglyceride- or free fatty acid-containing substance with an alcohol and a lipase to form a reaction mixture,c) incubating the reaction mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficient for transesterification between the triglyceride or esterification between the free fatty acid and the alcohol to occur,d) separating the alkyl esters from the reaction mixture.
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Abstract
A method is described which utilizes lipases to transesterify triglyceride-containing substances and to esterify free fatty acids to alkyl esters using short chain alcohols. The alkyl esters are useful as alternatives or additives to automotive fuels and lubricants. The method is particularly advantageous because it utilizes inexpensive feedstocks such as animal fats, vegetable oils, rendered fats and restaurant grease as substrates.
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13 Claims
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1. A method of producing alkyl esters useful as biofuels and lubricants from triglyceride- or free fatty acid-containing substances, said method comprising
a) dissolving said triglyceride- or free fatty acid-containing substance in an organic solvent, b) combining the dissolved triglyceride- or free fatty acid-containing substance with an alcohol and a lipase to form a reaction mixture, c) incubating the reaction mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficient for transesterification between the triglyceride or esterification between the free fatty acid and the alcohol to occur, d) separating the alkyl esters from the reaction mixture.
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