Title: Process for producing biodiesel, lubricants, and fuel and lubricant additives in a critical fluid medium

Abstract

A process for producing alkyl esters useful in biofuels and lubricants by transesterifying glyceride- or esterifying free fatty acid-containing substances in a single critical phase medium is disclosed. The critical phase medium provides increased reaction rates, decreases the loss of catalyst or catalyst activity and improves the overall yield of desired product. The process involves the steps of dissolving an input glyceride- or free fatty acid-containing substance with an alcohol or water into a critical fluid medium; reacting the glyceride- or free fatty acid-containing substance with the alcohol or water input over either a solid or liquid acidic or basic catalyst and sequentially separating the products from each other and from the critical fluid medium, which critical fluid medium can then be recycled back in the process. The process significantly reduces the cost of producing additives or alternatives to automotive fuels and lubricants utilizing inexpensive glyceride- or free fatty acid-containing substances, such as animal fats, vegetable oils, rendered fats, and restaurant grease.

Inventors:

Ginosar, Daniel M.; Fox, Robert V.

Issue Date:

2005-05-03

Research Org.:

Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1175334

Patent Number(s):

6887283

Application Number:

09/554,708

Assignee:

Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C11 - ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES C11C - FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10M - LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS

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C - CHEMISTRY C11 - ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES C11C - FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES

C11C3/04 - by esterification of fats or fatty oils
C11C3/003 - {by esterification of fatty acids with alcohols

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10M - LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS

C10M129/70 - of monocarboxylic acids
C10M105/34 - of monocarboxylic acids

C - CHEMISTRY C11 - ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES C11C - FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES

C11C1/06 - using solid catalysts

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10M - LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS

C10M2207/281 - of

C - CHEMISTRY C11 - ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES C11C - FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES

C11C3/02 - by esterification of fatty acids with glycerol

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E50/10 - Biofuels

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10L - FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

C10L1/19 - Esters {ester radical containing compounds

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10N - INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS C10M RELATING TO LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS

C10N2070/00 - Special methods of preparation

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10M - LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS

C10M2207/2815 - used as base material

C - CHEMISTRY C11 - ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES C11C - FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES

C11C1/04 - by hydrolysis

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10M - LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS

C10M177/00 - Special methods of preparation of lubricating compositions

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC07-94ID13223

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

09 BIOMASS FUELS