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Production of biodiesel from triglycerides via a thermal route

a thermal route and biodiesel technology, applied in the direction of fatty acid production, liquid carbonaceous fuels, liquid hydrocarbon mixture production, etc., can solve the problems of inoperable process, difficult conversion of free fatty acids and triglycerides into useful fuels by any traditional method, and the potential is presently underexplored

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-06-21
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN & RIGHT OF CANADA REPRESENTED BY THE MIN OF NATURAL RESOURCES
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

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Problems solved by technology

However, this potential is presently still under-explored and waste triglycerides are most commonly dumped into landfills (“Biodiesel Production Technology, August 2002-January 2004”; Van Gerpen, J. et al., July 2004, NREL / SR-510-36244).
Mixtures of free fatty acids and triglycerides have been found to be very difficult to convert to useful fuels by any traditional methods.
However, the high FFA content in waste triglycerides causes undesirable soap formation in base catalyzed esterification processes, rendering this process inoperable.
Waste triglycerides are also often heavily contaminated by contaminants, such as bacteria, detergents, silts and pesticides.
This method addresses the high FFA content of waste triglycerides, but does not treat or remove contaminants.
However, water formation by FFA esterification prevents this process from going to completion.
Furthermore, in typical thermal cracking of clean or waste triglycerides in the presence of a catalyst, there is a tendency for coke formation to occur on the catalyst, resulting in rapid deactivation.

Method used

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  • Production of biodiesel from triglycerides via a thermal route
  • Production of biodiesel from triglycerides via a thermal route

Examples

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Effect test

example 1

Conversion of Restaurant Trap Grease into Mixed Biodiesel / Diesel Product

[0029] Restaurant trap grease having an average density of 0.925 g / mL was fed to a thermal cracking unit where it was cracked at a temperature of 418.5° C. and a pressure of 29 psig (301 kPa) for 40 minutes. Thermal cracking produced a gas stream, a naphtha stream, a middle distillate stream with a maximum boiling point of approximately 343° C., as well as water and residue. The middle distillates stream made up 63.0 wt % of the total cracked product and had an acid number of 83.93 mg KOH / g.

[0030] The middle distillate stream was then fed to an acid esterification unit, where it was contacted with methanol in the presence of an Amberlyst 36 catalyst. Esterification was conducted at a temperature of 90° C. and at atmospheric pressure for 20 hours.

[0031] Esterification produced a raw diesel stream which was then treated with a calcium hydroxide solution, Ca(OH)2(aq), to produce a final mixed biodiesel / diesel pr...

example 2

Conversion of Rendered Animal Fat into Mixed Biodiesel / Diesel Product

[0032] Rendered animal fat, having an average density of 0.918 g / mL was fed to a thermal cracking unit in which it was cracked at 411° C. and atmospheric pressure for 40 minutes. The thermally cracked product contained 68.6 wt % middle distillates having a maximum boiling point of 345° C., naphtha and the remainder gas, water and residues.

[0033] The middle distillate stream, having a viscosity of 8.50 cSt, and an acid number of 146.96 mg KOH / g, was then fed to an acid esterification unit, where it was contacted with methanol in the presence of an Amberlyst 36 catalyst. Esterification was conducted at a temperature of 90° C. and at atmospheric pressure for 20 hours.

[0034] The resultant raw diesel stream was then treated with a calcium hydroxide solution, Ca(OH)2(aq), to produce a final mixed biodiesel / diesel product having an acid number of 0.75 mg KOH / g. The final product was found to have 18 ppm sulphur and 158...

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Abstract

A method is presented for producing biodiesel from a triglyceride feedstock. The feedstock is first thermally cracked to remove contaminants and convert triglycerides to form a middle distillate fraction rich in fatty acids. The middle distillate fraction is then esterified the in the presence of an alcohol and a catalyst to produce a biodiesel stream. The biodiesel stream can be treated with a basic solution to convert unesterified free fatty acids to non-foaming metallic soaps, which can be removed by centrifugation, filtering or a combination thereof. A method is also provided for producing a biodiesel / naphtha mixture, in which a triglyceride feedstock is thermally cracked to produce a middle distillate fraction, a naphtha stream and a gas stream. The naphtha stream and the middle distillate fraction are then esterified to produce a mixed biodiesel / naphtha stream, which can be treated with a basic solution to convert unesterified free fatty acids to non-foaming metallic soaps. The basic salts are removed by known means.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method of producing biodiesel from triglycerides using thermal cracking. The present invention specifically relates to the production of biodiesel from waste triglycerides. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In recent years, the area of biodiesels has drawn a great deal of attention. Biodiesels are plant and animal based fuels produced from the esterification of biomass-derived oils with alcohol. Biodiesel can be produced from such sources as canola, corn, soybean etc. Biodiesels are generally considered less environmentally damaging than traditional fossil fuels. [0003] Another potential source for biodiesels is from the waste triglycerides of animal rendering facilities and waste cooking oils, such as those found as restaurant trap greases. However, this potential is presently still under-explored and waste triglycerides are most commonly dumped into landfills (“Biodiesel Production Technology, August 2002-January 20...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C10L1/18
CPCC11C3/00C11C3/003Y02E50/13C10G3/40C10L1/026C10G2300/1014C10G2300/1018C10G2300/807Y02P30/20Y02E50/10
Inventor IKURA, MICHIO
Owner HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN & RIGHT OF CANADA REPRESENTED BY THE MIN OF NATURAL RESOURCES
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