Process for the production of biodiesel

• US 8,034,130 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Petrã“Leo Brasileiro SA - Petrobras (Presidãªncia Da Repãºblica)
• Original Assignee: Petrã“Leo Brasileiro SA - Petrobras (Presidãªncia Da Repãºblica)
• Inventors: Portilho, Márcio de Figueiredo, De Abreu, Marco Antonio Santos, Morgado, Edisson Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goloboy; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weiss; Pamela H
• Application Number:
  US12/264,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20090151234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 443/08, 443/85, 501/134, 501/135
• US Class Current: 44/385
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 21/063 Titanium; Oxides or hydroxides thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/58 Fabrics or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1014 of vegetal origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1018 of animal origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/026 for compression ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/19 Esters ester radical containing compounds; ester ethers; carbonic acid esters C10L1/1802, C10L1/1805, C10L1/1808, C10L1/1811, C10L1/1814, C10L1/1817 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 using bio-feedstock

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the production of alkyl esters of carboxylic acids for use as biodiesel starting from the reaction of transesterification of triglycerides originating from oils and fats of vegetable or animal origin, which can be used individually or in mixtures with one another in any proportions, employing heterogeneous catalysis by means of protonated lamellar titanate catalysts in nanostructured form, and said forms can comprise, among in other forms, nanotubes, nanofibres or nanosheets.

Claims

1. Process for the production of biodiesel, wherein the method comprises producing biodiesel through heterogeneous catalysis by contacting triglycerides with catalysts based on lamellar titanates in nanostructured form, resulting in the transesterification of the triglycerides.

2. Process for the production of biodiesel according to claim 1, wherein the triglycerides comprise oils, fats of vegetable or animal origin, or mixtures thereof.

3. Process for the production of biodiesel according to claim 1, wherein the catalysts of lamellar titanates are produced starting from precursor compounds of alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, transition and internal transition metals, which can be introduced in the stage of synthesis of the lamellar titanate or can be exchanged ionically, partially or completely, starting from precursor titanate in its alkaline or protonated form.

4. Process for the production of biodiesel according to claim 3, wherein the catalysts of lamellar titanates are preferably of alkali metals, more preferably of sodium.

5. Process for the production of biodiesel according to claim 4, wherein the catalysts of lamellar titanates are submitted to acid washing for their protonation.

6. Process for the production of biodiesel according to claim 1, wherein the catalysts of protonated lamellar titanates in nanostructured form used in said transesterification of triglycerides comprise nanotubes, nanorods, nanofibres or nanosheets, preferably being nanotubes with external diameter in the range from 5 nm to 50 nm and BET specific surface in the range from 50 m²/g to 450 m²/g.

7. Process for the production of biodiesel according to claim 1, wherein a reaction temperature of said transesterification of triglycerides by means of said catalysts of protonated lamellar titanates in nanostructured form is in the range from 65°

C. to 290°

C.

8. Process for the production of biodiesel according to claim 1, wherein the catalysts of lamellar titanates in nanostructured form are used in said transesterification of triglycerides in amounts in the range from 1% to 5% (w/w) relative to said triglycerides.

9. Process for the production of biodiesel according to claim 1, wherein the catalysts of protonated lamellar titanates in nanostructured form used in said transesterification of triglycerides comprise nanotubes, nanorods, nanofibres or nanosheets, preferably being nanotubes with external diameter in the range from 5 nm to 50 nm and BET specific surface in the range from 150 m²/g to 450 m²/g.

10. Process for the production of biodiesel according to claim 1, wherein a reaction temperature of said transesterification of triglycerides by means of said catalysts of protonated lamellar titanates in nanostructured form is in the range from 150°

C. to 290°

C.