Biodiesel process

• US 7,528,272 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Artisan Industries Inc.
• Original Assignee: Artisan Industries Inc.
• Inventors: Alasti, Perry
• Primary Examiner(s): Carr; Deborah D
• Application Number:
  US11/235,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 554/174
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 67/03 by reacting an ester group with a hydroxy group
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 67/54 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 69/24 esterified with monohydroxylic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 69/52 Esters of acyclic unsaturated carboxylic acids having the esterified carboxyl group bound to an acyclic carbon atom
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 11/00 Recovery or refining of other fatty substances, e.g. lanolin or waxes
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 3/003 by enzymes or microorganisms, living or dead
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 3/003 by esterification of fatty acids with alcohols C11C3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

The present invention provides a biodiesel process capable of yielding a mono-alkyl ester biodiesel. In one embodiment, a process for yielding biodiesel comprises providing a feed stream. Preferably, the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, salts, alcohol and glycerol. The process also comprises substantially separating alcohol from the feed stream to yield a first stream. The first stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts. A separation of alcohol from the first stream is performed by volatility. Furthermore, the process of the invention comprises substantially separating salts from the first stream to yield a vapor stream. The vapor stream also comprises mono-alkyl esters and glycerol. Separation of salts of the vapor stream is also performed by volatility. Glycerol and mono-alkyl esters of the vapor stream are also substantially separated so as to yield a biodiesel. Preferably, the biodiesel is a fuel grade biodiesel comprising fatty acid mono-alkyl esters.

Claims

1. A process for yielding biodiesel, the process comprising:

providing a feed stream, wherein the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol, alcohol and salts;

substantially separating alcohol of the feed stream to yield a first stream comprising mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts, wherein separation is by volatility;

substantially separating salts of the first stream to yield a vapor stream comprising mono-alkyl esters and glycerol, wherein separation is by volatility; and

substantially separating glycerol from the vapor stream to yield a biodiesel comprising mono-alkyl esters.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the biodiesel is fuel grade biodiesel.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed prior to separation from glycerol.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed during separation from glycerol.

5. The process of claim 1, the process further comprising prior to said step of providing:

substantially reacting triglycerides with alcohol, wherein reaction is by esterification.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein triglycerides are comprised in a feed source selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, animal fat, waste type greases and combinations thereof.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein esterification occurs in the presence of a catalyst.

8. The process of claim 5 or 7, wherein esterification yields a product stream comprising glycerol, mono-alkyl esters, salts and alcohol.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the feed stream is obtained from the product stream.

10. The of claim 7, the process further comprising:

substantially separating water present in the feed source prior to esterification.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein separation of water is by volatility.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein separation of water occurs in an evaporator.

13. The process of claim 10, wherein separation of water occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein separation of alcohol from the feed stream occurs in an evaporator.

15. The of claim 1, wherein separation of alcohol from the feed stream occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein separation of salts from the feed stream occurs in an evaporator.

17. The process of claim 1, wherein separation of salts from the feed stream occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.

18. The process of claim 1, wherein the process is substantially continuous.

20. The process of claim 18, wherein separation of mono-alkyl esters from glycerol is by gravity.

21. The process of claim 20, wherein separation of mono-alkyl esters from glycerol occurs in a centrifuge.

22. The process of claim 21, wherein the process is substantially continuous.

39. The process of claim 1, wherein the process is substantially continuous.

19. A process for yielding biodiesel, the process comprising:

providing a feed stream, wherein the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol, alcohol and salts;

substantially separating alcohol of the feed stream to yield a first stream comprising mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts, wherein separation is by volatility;

substantially separating salts of the first stream to yield a vapor stream comprising mono-alkyl esters and glycerol, wherein separation is by volatility;

substantially condensing mono-alkyl esters and glycerol of the vapor stream to yield a liquid stream; and

substantially separating glycerol from the liquid stream to yield a biodiesel comprising mono-alkyl esters.

23. A process for yielding biodiesel, the process comprising:

providing a feed stream, wherein the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol, alcohol and salts;

substantially separating alcohol of the feed stream to yield a first stream comprising mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts, wherein separation is by volatility;

substantially separating salts of the first stream to yield a vapor stream comprising mono-alkyl esters and glycerol, wherein separation is by volatility; and

substantially separating glycerol from the vapor stream to yield a liquid stream, wherein separation is by substantially condensing mono-alkyl esters.

24. The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid stream comprises a biodiesel.

25. The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid stream comprises a biodiesel, the biodiesel comprising mono-alkyl esters.

26. The process of claim 24 or 25, wherein the biodiesel is fuel grade biodiesel.

27. The process of claim 23, wherein separation of mono-alky esters from glycerol occurs in a column.

28. A process for yielding biodiesel, the process comprising:

substantially reacting triglycerides with alcohol to yield a feed stream comprising alcohol, glycerol, mono-alkyl esters, water and salts, wherein reaction is by esterification;

substantially separating alcohol and water of the feed stream to yield a first stream comprising mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts, wherein separation is by volatility;

substantially separating salts of the first stream, to yield a vapor stream comprising mono-alkyl esters and glycerol, wherein separation is by volatility; and

substantially separating glycerol from the vapor stream to yield a biodiesel comprising mono-alkyl esters.

29. The process of claim 28, wherein the biodiesel is fuel grade biodiesel.

30. The process of claim 28, wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed prior to separation from glycerol.

31. The process of claim 30, wherein separation of substantially condensed mono-alkyl esters is by gravity.

32. The process of claim 31, wherein separation of substantially condensed mono-alkyl esters occurs in a centrifuge.

33. The process of claim 28, wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed during separation from glycerol.

34. The process of claim 33, wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed in a column.

35. The process of claim 28, wherein separation of alcohol and water from the feed stream occurs in an evaporator.

36. The process of claim 35, wherein separation of alcohol and water from the feed stream occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.

37. The process of claim 28, wherein separation of salts from the feed stream occurs in an evaporator.

38. The process of claim 37, wherein separation of salts from the feed stream occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.

40. The process of claim 28, wherein said triglycerides are from a feed source.

41. The process of claim 40, the process further comprising:

substantially separating water from the feed source prior to esterification.

42. The process of claim 41, wherein separation of water is by volatility.

43. The process of claim 42, wherein separation of water occurs in an evaporator.

44. The process of claim 42, wherein separation of water occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.