METHOD FOR CAVITATION-ASSISTED REFINING, DEGUMMING AND DEWAXING OF OIL AND FAT

• US 20090314688A1
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cavitation Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cavitation Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Grichko, Varvara, Gordon, Roman, Gorodnitsky, Igor
• Granted Patent: US 8,911,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 208/223
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4323 using elements provided with a plurality of channels or using a plurality of tubes which can either be placed between common spaces or collectors
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/433 Mixing tubes wherein the shape of the tube influences the mixing, e.g. mixing tubes with varying cross-section or provided with inwardly extending profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4335 Mixers with a converging-diverging cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4336 Mixers with a diverging cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/45 Mixers in which the materials to be mixed are pressed together through orifices or interstitial spaces, e.g. between beads B01F25/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4521 the components being pressed through orifices in elements, e.g. flat plates or cylinders, which obstruct the whole diameter of the tube
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/82 Combinations of dissimilar mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/821 with consecutive receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 10/002 carried out in foam, aerosol or bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0066 Stirrers mixing per se B01F
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/008 Processes for carrying out reactions under cavitation conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/02 Apparatus characterised by being constructed of material selected for its chemically-resistant properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/2415 Tubular reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0218 of ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0231 of diamond
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0245 of synthetic organic material
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 17/00 Refining of hydrocarbon oils in the absence of hydrogen, with acids, acid-forming compounds or acid-containing liquids, e.g. acid sludge
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 21/00 Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by extraction with selective solvents C10G17/00, C10G19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 29/00 Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, with other chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 31/08 by treating with water
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 3/001 : by a combination of two or more of the means hereafter
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 3/006 : by extraction
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 3/04 : with acids
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 3/16 : by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 3/003 : by esterification of fatty acids with alcohols C11C3/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for degumming and/or refining crude oil containing impurities involving mixing the crude oil with degumming agents, i.e., water or acid, and subjecting the mixture to flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation processing. The cavitational processing transfers impurities in the crude oil to a water phase for easier separation. The water phase may be separated from the oil phase by commonly available separation methods.

Claims

1. A method for degumming and/or refining crude oil containing impurities, comprising the steps of:

providing a flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation device having a flow path there through;

mixing the crude oil with a degumming agent to form mixed fluid having an oil phase and a water phase;

pumping the mixed fluid into the flow path of the cavitation device at a pre-determined pump pressure;

generating cavitational features in the mixed fluid such that the impurities are transferred from the oil phase to the water phase; and

separating the oil phase from the water phase.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of agitating the mixed fluid prior to performing the pumping and generating steps.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of processing the crude oil in the cavitation device prior to performing the mixing step.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of repeating the pumping and generating steps prior to performing the separating step.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of repeating the mixing, pumping, generating and separating steps using the separated oil phase.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the separating step is performed using sedimentation, centrifugation, filtration, distillation, extraction or washing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the degumming agent comprises water, steam, phosphoric acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, aspartic amino acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, alkali, salts, chelating agents, crown ethers, soluble or immobilized lipases, enzymes, or maleic anhydride.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the crude oil is dissolved in a solvent prior to performing the mixing step.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the impurities comprise phosphatides, free fatty acids, off-flavor compounds, sulphurous compounds, pigments, chlorophyll, waxes, metals, carbohydrates, liposaccharides, proteins, aldehydes, ketones, terpenes, sterols or carotenes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the crude oil comprises edible vegetable oil, animal fat or tallow, or oil from bacteria, yeast, algae, prokaryotes or eukaryotes.

11. A method for degumming and/or refining crude oil containing impurities, comprising the steps of:

providing a flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation device having a flow path there through;

mixing the crude oil with a degumming agent to form mixed fluid having an oil phase and a water phase, wherein the degumming agent comprises water, steam, phosphoric acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, aspartic amino acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, alkali, salts, chelating agents, crown ethers, soluble or immobilized lipases, enzymes, or maleic anhydride;

pumping the mixed fluid into the flow path of the cavitation device at a pre-determined pump pressure;

generating cavitational features in the mixed fluid such that the impurities are transferred from the oil phase to the water phase;

separating the oil phase from the water phase; and

repeating the pumping and generating steps prior to performing the separating step.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of agitating the mixed fluid prior to performing the pumping and generating steps.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of processing the crude oil in the cavitation device prior to performing the mixing step.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of repeating the mixing, pumping, generating and separating steps using the separated oil phase.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the separating step is performed using sedimentation, centrifugation, filtration, distillation, extraction or washing.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the crude oil is dissolved in a solvent prior to performing the mixing step.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the impurities comprise phosphatides, free fatty acids, off-flavor compounds, sulphurous compounds, pigments, chlorophyll, waxes, metals, carbohydrates, liposaccharides, proteins, aldehydes, ketones, terpenes, sterols or carotenes.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the crude oil comprises edible vegetable oil, animal fat or tallow, or oil from bacteria, yeast, algae, prokaryotes or eukaryotes.

19. A method for degumming and/or refining crude oil containing impurities, comprising the steps of:

providing a flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation device having a flow path there through;

mixing the crude oil with a degumming agent to form mixed fluid having an oil phase and a water phase, wherein the degumming agent comprises water, steam, phosphoric acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, aspartic amino acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, alkali, salts, chelating agents, crown ethers, soluble or immobilized lipases, enzymes, or maleic anhydride;

pumping the mixed fluid into the flow path of the cavitation device at a pre-determined pump pressure;

generating cavitational features in the mixed fluid such that the impurities are transferred from the oil phase to the water phase;

separating the oil phase from the water phase using sedimentation, centrifugation, filtration, distillation, extraction or washing; and

repeating the pumping and generating steps prior to performing the separating step.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of agitating the mixed fluid prior to performing the pumping and generating steps.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of processing the crude oil in the cavitation device prior to performing the mixing step.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of repeating the mixing, pumping, generating and separating steps using the separated oil phase.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the crude oil is dissolved in a solvent prior to performing the mixing step.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the crude oil comprises edible vegetable oils, animal fat or tallow, or oils from bacteria, yeast, algae, prokaryotes or eukaryotes and the impurities comprise phosphatides, free fatty acids, off-flavor compounds, sulphurous compounds, pigments, chlorophyll, waxes, metals, carbohydrates, liposaccharides, proteins, aldehydes, ketones, terpenes, sterols or carotenes.