Methods and apparatus for producing alkyl esters from lipid feed stocks and systems including same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process for producing alkyl esters comprising:
- mixing a lipid feed stock with an alcohol to form a reaction mixture, the alcohol comprising a C1-C6 alcohol;
contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst under supercritical conditions for the alcohol, the catalyst comprising an unmodified metal oxide, andremoving residual free fatty acids from the reaction mixture, wherein removing residual free fatty acids from the reaction mixture comprises adding dimethyl carbonate to the reaction mixture.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for producing alkyl esters from lipid feed stocks, such as plant oils and/or animal fats, and systems including the same. In an embodiment, the invention includes a process for producing alkyl esters including mixing a lipid feed stock with an alcohol to form a reaction mixture; and contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst under supercritical conditions for the alcohol, the catalyst comprising an unmodified metal oxide selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania, zirconia, and hafnia, and removing residual free fatty acids from the reaction mixture. Other embodiments are included herein.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A process for producing alkyl esters comprising:
-
mixing a lipid feed stock with an alcohol to form a reaction mixture, the alcohol comprising a C1-C6 alcohol; contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst under supercritical conditions for the alcohol, the catalyst comprising an unmodified metal oxide, and removing residual free fatty acids from the reaction mixture, wherein removing residual free fatty acids from the reaction mixture comprises adding dimethyl carbonate to the reaction mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A process for producing alkyl esters comprising:
-
mixing a lipid feed stock with an alcohol to form a reaction mixture; contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst under supercritical conditions for the alcohol, the catalyst comprising a metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide has been treated with a Brø
nsted acid or a Brø
nsted base, andremoving residual free fatty acids from the reaction mixture, wherein removing residual free fatty acids from the reaction mixture comprises adding dimethyl carbonate to the reaction mixture. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
Specification