Production of biodiesel and glycerin from high free fatty acid feedstocks
First Claim
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1. A process for the production of purified biodiesel from a feedstock containing at least one fatty acid, the process comprising:
- (A) converting the at least one fatty acid in the feedstock to a glyceride;
(B) reacting the glyceride with at least one alcohol to produce a fatty acid alkyl ester wherein the reaction is conducted in a transesterification reactor and further wherein the at least one alcohol is added to the transesterification reactor at a rate that is greater than the stoichiometric amount of alcohol required for transesterification; and
(C) separating the product of step (B) into a fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream and a glycerin rich stream; and
(D) purifying the fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream by distillation or fractionation to produce purified biodiesel having an acid number less than or equal to 0.80 mg KOH/g and total glycerin less than or equal to 0.240% mass without subjecting the fatty acid alkyl ester rich steam to water washing.
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Abstract
A system and method for converting a high free fatty acid grease feedstock to biodiesel. The process comprises a glycerolysis reaction to convert free fatty acids to glycerides and a base catalyzed transesterification reaction to produce fatty acid methyl esters and glycerin in the absence of solvents. In preferred embodiments, both glycerin and methanol are recycled. The process can process a feedstock containing up to 100 percent free fatty acid content to produce biodiesel and glycerin with minimal waste generation.
85 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A process for the production of purified biodiesel from a feedstock containing at least one fatty acid, the process comprising:
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(A) converting the at least one fatty acid in the feedstock to a glyceride; (B) reacting the glyceride with at least one alcohol to produce a fatty acid alkyl ester wherein the reaction is conducted in a transesterification reactor and further wherein the at least one alcohol is added to the transesterification reactor at a rate that is greater than the stoichiometric amount of alcohol required for transesterification; and (C) separating the product of step (B) into a fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream and a glycerin rich stream; and (D) purifying the fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream by distillation or fractionation to produce purified biodiesel having an acid number less than or equal to 0.80 mg KOH/g and total glycerin less than or equal to 0.240% mass without subjecting the fatty acid alkyl ester rich steam to water washing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A process for the production of purified biodiesel from a feedstock containing at least one fatty acid, the process comprising:
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(A) converting the at least one fatty acid in the feedstock to a glyceride; (B) reacting the glyceride with at least one alcohol to produce a fatty acid alkyl ester wherein the reaction is conducted in a transesterification reactor and further wherein the at least one alcohol is added to the transesterification reactor at a rate that is greater than the stoichiometric amount of alcohol required for transesterification; and (C) separating the product of step (B) into a fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream and a glycerin rich stream; and (D) purifying the fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream by distillation or fractionation to produce purified biodiesel having an acid number less than or equal to 0.80 mg KOH/g and total glycerin less than or equal to 0.240% mass without subjecting the fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream to water washing; wherein step (A) comprises mixing the feedstock with glycerin for a time sufficient to convert the at least one fatty acid in the feedstock to a glyceride;
wherein the feedstock and glycerin are reacted in at least two continuous stirred tank reactors. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A process for the production of purified biodiesel from a feedstock containing at least one fatty acid, the process comprising:
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(A) converting the at least one fatty acid in the feedstock to a glyceride; (B) reacting the glyceride with at least one alcohol to produce a fatty acid alkyl ester wherein the reaction is conducted in a transesterification reactor and further wherein the at least one alcohol is added to the transesterification reactor at a rate that is greater than the stoichiometric amount of alcohol required for transesterification; and (C) separating the product of step (B) into a fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream and a glycerin rich stream; and (D) purifying the fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream by distillation or fractionation to produce purified biodiesel having an acid number less than or equal to 0.80 mg KOH/g and total glycerin less than or equal to 0.240% mass without subjecting the fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream to water washing;
wherein the purified biodiesel produced in step (D) meets ASTM specification D 6751.
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17. A process for the production of purified biodiesel from a feedstock containing at least one fatty acid, the process comprising:
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(A) converting the at least one fatty acid in the feedstock to a glyceride; (B) reacting the glyceride with at least one alcohol to produce a fatty acid alkyl ester wherein the reaction is conducted in a transesterification reactor and further wherein the at least one alcohol is added to the transesterification reactor at a rate that is greater than the stoichiometric amount of alcohol required for transesterification; and (C) separating the product of step (B) into a fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream and a glycerin rich stream; and (D) purifying the fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream by distillation or fractionation to produce purified biodiesel without subjecting the fatty acid alkyl ester rich steam to water washing. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification