Method and system for determining a parameter of a naturally occurring composition that allows determining the most appropriate heteroatom removal treatment for this composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for determining a parameter representative of the quality of a naturally occurring composition. This parameter allows for the determination of the most suitable treatment for the removal of heteroatoms in the processing of said composition, particularly for its hydrotreatment to produce renewable fuels. The invention also relates to a method for reducing the heteroatom content in this type of composition, particularly for the production of a renewable fuel.

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining a parameter representative of the quality of a naturally occurring composition. This parameter allows for the determination of the most appropriate heteroatom removal treatment for processing this composition, particularly for its use in the manufacture of renewable fuels, especially diesel and / or aviation fuel (including sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF). The invention also relates to a sequence of processes for treating this type of composition, particularly for manufacturing a renewable fuel. Previous art

[0002] Different types of renewable fuels are available today: biodiesel and fuel derived from the hydrotreatment of naturally sourced oils.

[0003] Biodiesel is currently produced by transesterification of triglycerides with methanol, producing methyl ester and glycerol in the presence of a homogeneous or heterogeneous basic catalyst. The triglycerides are derived from natural oils.

[0004] Other renewable fuels are produced by hydrodeoxygenation of natural oils, generally followed by an isomerization step to improve the fuel's cold-weather properties, and optionally a fractionation step. The hydrodeoxygenation and isomerization steps are also carried out in the presence of a catalyst.

[0005] Naturally sourced oils commonly used to manufacture renewable fuels include animal fats and oils, various seed-based oils such as soybean, rapeseed, and palm oil, seed oils collected after being used to prepare food (commonly known as used cooking oils), algal oils, and oils from nut shells, including cashew nut shell oils.

[0006] These oils and greases can, however, contain high levels of pollutants (phospholipids, phosphate salts, gums, metals, sulfur, ash, water, pigments, and other undesirable substances) that can have a detrimental effect on subsequent treatments, such as deactivation of catalysts in downstream processes, corrosion, fouling, etc. It is therefore necessary to pretreat them to eliminate some or all of these harmful effects.

[0007] Thus, before their conversion into renewable fuel, fats and oils of natural origin and UCOs are usually pre-treated by well-known chemical and physical processes, similar to those used for the treatment of edible oils, such as degumming, neutralization with an alkaline (usually NaOH) or acidic (e.g. citric acid) solution, bleaching, finishing or polishing, steam treatment, etc.

[0008] US patent 2019338219A1 describes a biodiesel production process that includes a pretreatment step prior to esterification. The pretreatment is chosen based on the fatty acid content of the feedstock. It may consist of chemical refining with the addition of a basic compound followed by centrifugation, bleaching, and polishing; degumming with the addition of another basic compound, followed by centrifugation, bleaching, and polishing; or bleaching and polishing alone. The centrifugation step removes the aqueous phase, polar or hydratable compounds, and solids. The bleaching step (by heating or the addition of a bleaching agent) removes solids, residual soaps, moisture, and other impurities. The polishing step removes residual solids by filtration.If any fatty acids remain, they can be removed either by stripping (or deacidification) or converted by esterification before the transesterification reaction. The resulting biodiesel is then purified again by filtration.

[0009] We also know from document US2019031964A1 a purification process that significantly reduces sulfur, metals, and other impurities in renewable oils. The oil is first mixed with an aqueous citric acid solution at 60°C, then centrifuged to remove gums, and finally treated with a mixture containing water, a hydrotreated long-chain ester compound, and a phosphate derivative at at least 100°C for 10 minutes. The temperature is then increased to 120°C–130°C for 30 to 90 minutes. The mixture is then cooled and centrifuged again.

[0010] The article by Victor Garcia-Montoto et al., "Phosphorus speciation analysis of fatty-acid-based feedstocks and fast pyrolysis biocrudes via gel permeation chromatography inductively coupled plasma high-resolution mass spectrometry," published in RSC ADVANCES, vol. 11, no. 43, August 5, 2021, pages 26732-26738, XP055959111, DOI: 10.1039 / D1RA03470G, describes a method for determining the quality of a naturally occurring lipid composition in order to select or adjust a pretreatment. The method includes a step to determine the total phosphorus content of the composition and a step to identify the phosphorus compounds.

[0011] However, these well-known processes consume chemicals, generate waste, and can be energy-intensive, especially when heating is required. Furthermore, due to the complexity of oils, removing all gum products can be challenging, particularly since mixtures of oils and greases from various sources are often used, and their relative proportions can fluctuate considerably over time. Therefore, a flexible and robust process is needed to effectively remove phosphatides, nitrogen compounds, and metals from complex mixtures of oils and greases of different origins and fluctuating composition.

[0012] The removal of phosphatides, as well as nitrogen compounds, by conventional pretreatment processes remains difficult and unpredictable. Consequently, only complex mixtures of oils and greases meeting specific phosphorus content requirements are currently accepted for these pretreatments, thus limiting the choice of potentially usable feedstocks. Therefore, at present, treated mixtures have a total elemental phosphorus content at or below a specific threshold. However, some of these feedstocks remain difficult to treat even when their elemental phosphorus content is below this threshold.

[0013] Therefore, there is a need to treat naturally occurring compositions containing lipids and heteroatoms more efficiently and at a lower cost, particularly at least one heteroatom chosen from nitrogen and phosphorus. These heteroatoms are typically in the form of organic compounds. Summary

[0014] The applicant discovered that, surprisingly, the ratio of the total heteroatom content present in hydratable compounds at neutral pH to the total content of that heteroatom, particularly when the heteroatom is phosphorus or nitrogen, makes it possible to characterize the quality of a naturally occurring composition containing lipids, and in particular its ability to be treated effectively by a heteroatom removal treatment.

[0015] The object of the present invention is to propose a method for determining a parameter representative of the quality of a composition of natural origin containing lipids, allowing in particular to determine its suitability to be treated by a treatment for the removal of heteroatoms in order to reach a target heteroatom content or less than a target value in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

[0016] This parameter can be used to determine which heteroatom removal treatment can be applied to a naturally sourced oil composition containing lipids to achieve a target heteroatom content, including phosphorus and / or nitrogen.

[0017] The parameter can also be used in a process for reducing the heteroatom content of a naturally occurring lipid-containing composition, in particular a process for reducing the heteroatom content Detailed description Method for determining a parameter representative of the quality of a composition of natural origin

[0018] A first object of the invention relates to a method for determining a parameter representative of the quality of a composition of natural origin comprising heteroatoms and lipids selected from phenolic lipids, fatty acids, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, fatty acid esters and / or a mixture of two or more of these compounds, the method comprising: (A) the determination of the total content of said composition in at least one heteroatom selected from phosphorus and nitrogen, (B) the identification of the compounds of at least one heteroatom hydratable at neutral pH and the determination of the total content of said composition in at least one heteroatom present in the identified compounds of that heteroatom hydratable at neutral pH, (C) the determination, as a parameter representative of the quality of the composition, of the ratio of the total content of at least one heteroatom present in the identified compounds of that heteroatom hydratable at neutral pH to the total content of the composition in that heteroatom, this ratio being determined for phosphorus, for nitrogen or for each of these two heteroatoms.

[0019] In particular, step (B) can be carried out using an analytical technique chosen from NMR, mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS), high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC).

[0020] We can thus use phosphorus 31 NMR (noted 31< P) or nitrogen 15 NMR (noted 15< N).

[0021] The determination carried out in step (A) can be performed by elemental analysis, typically by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) or by ICP (in particular according to the UOP 389 standard), although other methods are conceivable (NMR, HPTLC,...).

[0022] Total contents can be contents by mass, for example expressed in ppm, or concentrations, for example a molar concentration or other.

[0023] The aforementioned analytical techniques are well known to the person skilled in the art who will know how to implement them, and in particular how to prepare the samples, to identify the hydratable compounds at neutral pH and to quantify the phosphorus and / or nitrogen present in this composition.

[0024] For example, for 31<P NMR, the sample can be washed with a chelating agent (e.g. EDTA or other) at an appropriate pH (e.g. pH=7) then the organic and aqueous phases are separated and the 31<P NMR analysis is then performed on each of the recovered phases.

[0025] Typically, the nitrogen or phosphorus compounds that are hydratable at neutral pH and that we wish to identify and whose P and / or N content we wish to quantify are compounds whose structure and potential presence are known, for example following a prior analysis of the composition. Composition of natural origin

[0026] The naturally sourced composition used in the present invention is a composition comprising heteroatoms and lipids selected from phenolic lipids, fatty acids, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, fatty acid esters and / or a mixture of two or more of these compounds.

[0027] This composition may include, or consist of, a naturally sourced oil or a mixture of natural oils.

[0028] A naturally sourced oil is defined as an oil that does not contain mineral oil of fossil origin.

[0029] The composition according to the invention may contain one or more oils of natural origin chosen from a vegetable oil, an animal oil or fat, a used oil, an oil produced by microorganisms, esters resulting from the trans-esterification of fatty acid esters contained in one or more of these oils, as well as mixtures thereof.

[0030] Typically, a naturally sourced oil may contain 50% or more, 60% or more, preferably 70% or more, of phenolic lipids, fatty acids and / or fatty acid esters (mono-, di-, triglycerides, ethyl esters of fatty acids, methyl esters of fatty acids).

[0031] An oil of natural origin may contain 50%m or more of fatty acid esters (mono-, di-, triglycerides, ethyl esters of fatty acids, methyl esters of fatty acids) and / or fatty acids, preferably 60%m or more, preferably 70%m or more.

[0032] In one embodiment, a natural oil or a mixture of natural oils may contain fatty acid esters and free fatty acids, containing one to three C8-C24 acyl groups, saturated or unsaturated. When several acyl groups are present, they may be identical or different.

[0033] Compositions resulting from the trans-esterification of fatty acid esters contained in these oils, such as compositions comprising fatty acid methyl esters or fatty acid ethyl esters, and containing impurities from the oils, may also be part of the treated natural origin compositions considered in the present invention.

[0034] An oil of natural origin may contain 50% w or more, preferably 60% w or more, preferably 70% w or more, of phenolic lipids. These phenolic lipids include, in particular, the compounds represented by formula (1):

[0035] Or : R is a linear-chain alkyl group in C10-C30, optionally in C12-C20, for example in C15, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted by heteroatoms chosen from O, N or S, R 1< is hydrogen or a hydroxyl group, R 2< is hydrogen, a carboxylic group or an ester, R 3< is hydrogen.

[0036] Naturally sourced oil may include one or more of the following phenolic lipids: alkylated phenols whose alkyl group has a linear chain in C10-C30, optionally in C12-C20, for example in C15, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted by heteroatoms selected from O, N or S; alkylresorcinols whose alkyl group has a linear chain in C10-C30, optionally in C12-C20, for example in C15, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted by heteroatoms selected from O, N or S; anacardic acids, whose alkyl group has a linear chain in C10-C30, optionally in C12-C20, for example in C15, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted by heteroatoms selected from O, N or S.

[0037] The vegetable oil can be chosen from pine oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, peanut oil, linseed oil, babassu oil, hemp oil, linola oil, jatropha oil, peanut oil, rice bran oil, mustard oil, carinata oil, coconut oil, copra oil, olive oil, palm oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, palm kernel oil, soybean oil, pumpkin seed oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, walnut oil, hazelnut oil, tung oil, rice oil, safflower oil, seaweed oil, and other oils. used, nut shell oil (especially cashew nut shell oil), and any combination thereof.

[0038] Used oil includes used cooking oils (used food oils) and oils recovered from wastewater, such as trap and drain grease / oil, gutter oil, sewage oil, e.g. from wastewater treatment plants, and used grease from the food industry.

[0039] Animal fat can be chosen from tallow, lard, fat (yellow and brown fat), fish oil / fat, milk fat.

[0040] Naturally sourced oil can also be oil produced by microorganisms, whether natural or genetically modified, such as bacteria, yeasts (including oleaginous yeasts), algae, prokaryotes, or eukaryotes. These oils can be extracted using well-established mechanical or chemical methods.

[0041] The aforementioned natural oils, most of which are rich in triglycerides or phenolic lipids, also contain varying amounts of components such as free fatty acids, mono- and diglycerides, and / or numerous other organic and inorganic components, including phosphatides, sterols, tocopherols, tocotrienols, hydrocarbons, pigments (gossypol, chlorophyll), vitamins (carotenoids), sterol glucosides, glycolipids, protein fragments, traces of pesticides and metals, as well as resinous and mucilaginous substances. Among these latter components, some compounds, particularly those containing heteroatoms, are pollutants that should ideally be at least partially removed before further processing.

[0042] The renewable oil composition according to the invention typically comprises heteroatoms, including phosphorus and / or nitrogen. These heteroatoms are generally in the form of organic compounds, particularly lipids.

[0043] The phosphorus content of the natural composition can be 20 ppm or more or 50 ppm or more, for example from 50 ppm to 1500 ppm, or from 200 ppm to 1200 ppm, measured for example by X-ray fluorescence or ICP by the UOP 389 method.

[0044] The nitrogen content of the natural composition can be 50 ppm or more, for example from 50 ppm to 1200 ppm or from 200 ppm to 2000 ppm, measured for example by X-ray fluorescence.

[0045] The naturally occurring composition may also include one or more other heteroatoms such as alkali metals, particularly potassium, alkaline earth metals, and / or chlorine. The content of these heteroatoms can vary depending on the constituents of the composition. It can be determined by elemental analysis such as X-ray fluorescence or by ICP.

[0046] In the naturally occurring composition considered in the invention, phosphorus may be present in the form of phosphatides, the most common of which are phosphatic acid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphate salts. Since these compounds are often charged due to their low (phosphate group) or high (amino group) pKa, they may also contain alkali or alkaline earth elements or absorb metallic cations such as copper or iron.

[0047] There figure 3The diagram represents the different forms of these phospholipids in water as a function of pH; the R group represents a diglyceride. It should be noted that phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) are hydratable regardless of pH, that phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is hydratable at pH 2-3, while phosphatic acid (PA) is hydratable at pH levels above 4 if it is not chelated by cations present in the mixture, in which case it will remain in the organic phase.

[0048] A "hydratable compound" is defined as a compound that is at least partially soluble in water. This solubility can depend on the pH, as explained above.

[0049] In the present invention, compounds that are at least partially soluble or completely soluble in water at neutral pH (pH = 7) will be considered hydratable at neutral pH, particularly under the temperature conditions of the treatment implemented. A compound is considered at least partially soluble in water at neutral pH when at least 40% by weight of that compound is solubilized, particularly under the temperature conditions of the treatment implemented. The temperature conditions of the treatment implemented include, in particular, those of the neutral pH water washing described below.

[0050] Phosphorus compounds that are hydratable at neutral pH include hydratable phosphate salts, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol, and, to a lesser extent, phosphatidylglycerol.

[0051] Nitrogen is present in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. It can also be present in its natural composition in the form of chlorophyll, protein residues, fatty amines, etc.

[0052] Nitrogen compounds that are hydratable at neutral pH include phosphatidylcholine and, to a lesser extent, phosphatidylinositol.

[0053] The invention is not limited to these compounds, however, and in particular all identifiable hydratable compounds at neutral pH may be taken into account.

[0054] Specifically, to identify and quantify hydratable compounds at neutral pH, an analysis of the composition to be treated can be performed to identify organic compounds containing phosphorus and / or nitrogen. These compounds can then be isolated and their solubility tested in water, particularly at different pH levels under the temperature conditions of the treatment. Compound identification can be carried out using the techniques mentioned above (NMR, mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and high-performance thin-layer chromatography). Method for determining the disposal treatment

[0055] Another object of the invention relates to a method for determining the heteroatom removal treatment to be applied to a natural oil composition comprising heteroatoms and lipids selected from phenolic lipids, fatty acids, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, fatty acid esters and / or a mixture of two or more of these compounds, to achieve a target content of at least one heteroatom, in particular phosphorus and / or nitrogen.

[0056] The method according to the invention comprises: (a) a step of determining at least one parameter representative of the quality of the composition by means of the determination method according to the invention, (b) a step of estimating a residual content of at least one heteroatom selected from phosphorus and nitrogen, from the representative parameter, this residual content corresponding to the content of the at least one heteroatom after removal of hydratable compounds at pH=7 containing this heteroatom, (c) a step of determining a treatment to be applied to said composition to achieve a target content of at least one heteroatom, in particular selected from phosphorus and / or nitrogen, at the outlet of the treatment, said treatment being selected from (i) a wash with water at neutral pH, (ii) a wash with water at neutral pH followed by a step of removal of non-hydratable compounds, (iii) a wash with water at neutral pH followed by a step of removal of hydratable compounds at a pH other than neutral pH,(iv) a wash with water at neutral pH followed by a step of removing hydratable compounds at a pH other than neutral pH and then a step of removing non-hydratable compounds, in which we compare the said residual content to the target content and we choose the treatment (i) if the residual content is less than or equal to the target content, otherwise we use a database or a model configured to provide, an estimate of a content of at least one heteroatom at the output of each treatment (ii) to (iv) as a function of a content of this heteroatom at the input of the treatment equal to the residual content, and we choose the treatment for which the estimated output content is less than or equal to the target content, and optionally for which the number of treatment steps is the lowest.

[0057] It is therefore possible to determine the treatment, in particular the treatment with the fewest steps, which allows a target content of heteroatoms, in particular P and / or N. The treatment thus makes it possible to reach this target content regardless of the initial content of phosphorus and / or nitrogen of the composition.

[0058] In particular, a treatment can be chosen to achieve a target content for either phosphorus, nitrogen, or both. In step (a), the parameter representing the quality of the composition for phosphorus, the parameter representing the quality of the composition for nitrogen, or both parameters, will then be determined, and the database or model used in step (c) will then be configured to provide an estimate of a phosphorus content, a nitrogen content, or both, at the output of each treatment (ii) to (iv) as a function of an input content of this heteroatom to the treatment equal to the residual content.

[0059] It may happen that, during step (c), none of the estimated output contents are less than or equal to the target content. In this case, steps (a) to (c) can advantageously be repeated, diluting said natural composition with another natural composition, in particular a composition having a quality parameter higher than that of said composition (for example, previously determined by the determination method according to the invention).

[0060] This can allow the use of a feedstock for which the usual heteroatom removal treatments are not sufficiently effective in reducing the amount of heteroatoms, particularly phosphorus and / or nitrogen, to achieve a target specification.

[0061] Advantageously, the database and / or model can be configured to provide an estimate of the concentrations of at least one heteroatom at the output of said treatment obtained for different operating conditions of each treatment (i) to (iv). During step (c), a treatment and its operating conditions can then be selected for which the estimated output concentration is less than or equal to the target concentration, and optionally for which the number of treatment steps is lowest and / or the quantity of reagent used is lowest. It is thus possible to optimize the treatment conditions for each batch to be treated, which notably reduces the quantities of reagents used, and therefore the costs.

[0062] The determination method according to the invention can in particular be used for a composition of natural origin as defined above.

[0063] The database or model used in this process is configured to provide estimates of heteroatom content (at least in P and / or N) at the output of a treatment. These estimates can be established beforehand by means of tests in which naturally occurring compositions are subjected to each of the treatments (i) to (iv). For each test and each type of treatment, it is thus possible to measure, optionally for different operating conditions of each treatment: the total content of each composition in at least one heteroatom chosen from phosphorus and nitrogen, before and after treatment, the total content of each composition in the at least one heteroatom contained in the compounds of this heteroatom hydratable at neutral pH.

[0064] The determination process according to the invention may further include a step (d) of processing said composition, in which it is subjected to the treatment chosen in step (c) and a composition of natural origin is recovered having a reduced content of at least one heteroatom, in particular of at least one heteroatom chosen from phosphorus and nitrogen, and advantageously of at least one other heteroatom, in particular chosen from metals, alkali metals, alkaline earths and chlorine.

[0065] The composition thus treated can then be subjected to a hydrotreating step, optionally in mixture with hydrocarbons of fossil origin, and then advantageously to an isomerization step, in order to produce a renewable fuel, in particular of the diesel type.

[0066] Alternatively, the composition thus treated can be subjected to a transesterification or esterification step to produce a biodiesel-type fuel.

[0067] The removal treatment steps (i) to (iv) and the hydrotreatment step can be as described below with reference to the process for reducing the heteroatom content of a naturally occurring composition according to the invention. Method for reducing heteroatom content

[0068] The invention also relates to a method for reducing the heteroatom content of a composition of natural origin comprising heteroatoms and lipids selected from phenolic lipids, fatty acids, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, fatty acid esters and / or a mixture of two or more of these compounds, in particular as defined above.

[0069] In a first embodiment, the process comprises: (E1) a step of determining the heteroatom removal treatment to be applied to the natural composition to achieve a target content of at least one heteroatom, by means of the determination process according to the invention, and (E2) a step in which said natural composition is subjected to the treatment determined in step (E1).

[0070] In a second embodiment, the process comprises: (E'2) a heteroatom removal step in which the naturally sourced composition is subjected to a treatment selected from: (i) washing with water at neutral pH, (ii) washing with water at neutral pH followed by a step for removing non-hydratable compounds, (iii) washing with water at neutral pH followed by a step for removing hydratable compounds at a pH other than neutral, (iv) washing with water at neutral pH followed by a step for removing hydratable compounds at a pH other than neutral and then a step for removing non-hydratable compounds, and in which the naturally sourced composition exhibits a parameter representative of the quality of the composition, previously determined by means of the determination method according to the invention,which is greater than or equal to a threshold beyond which the efficiency of the removal step is sufficient to reduce the heteroatom content of said composition to a target level or below a target level.

[0071] This allows for the selection, prior to the elimination stage, of a naturally occurring composition for which a specific treatment yields a particular specification. This can, in particular, optimize the operation of an existing processing unit.

[0072] These threshold values ​​of the parameter can be determined beforehand from a database identical to the one previously described, for example by statistical processing of the data from the database and / or by means of a model such as previously described.

[0073] Each of the four possible treatments (i) to (iv) includes a washing step with water at neutral pH, which may be followed, depending on the treatment, by a step for removing non-hydratable compounds and / or a step for removing hydratable compounds at a pH other than neutral. Each of these steps is detailed below.

[0074] In each of the embodiments, the reduction process may further include a hydrotreatment step (E3) of the product directly from step (E2) or (E'2). Washing step with pH-neutral water

[0075] Washing the said natural composition with water at neutral pH allows a significant reduction in the content of heteroatoms, in particular heteroatoms selected from phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorine, alkali metals, alkaline earths, in particular it allows the elimination of nitrogen and / or phosphorus compounds contained in compounds of these atoms hydratable at neutral pH.

[0076] This water washing step is carried out with water at a neutral pH, meaning without the addition of any chemical (acid or alkali) intended to modify the pH. It is typically a wash with demineralized water. This wash is generally performed with agitation to promote contact between the water and the oil.

[0077] When the residual content of heteroatoms (in particular P and / or N) estimated from the representative parameter is less than the target content, this washing may be sufficient to remove all, or almost all, of these heteroatoms without having to carry out further heteroatom removal treatments such as the additional removal steps provided for in treatments (ii) to (iv).

[0078] Typically, this water washing is carried out at atmospheric pressure, at a temperature ranging from ambient temperature to the temperature at which the composition is liquid. This temperature can be determined based on the pour point of the composition. It can be above 50°C, for example, from 50°C to 100°C.

[0079] This washing step is typically carried out by contacting the composition with neutral pH water, followed by separation of the oil and aqueous phases. The recovered oil phase forms a composition with a reduced content of hydratable compounds at neutral pH. This contacting can be repeated one or more times. After each contact, the oil and aqueous phases are separated, and the separated oil phase is either contacted again with neutral pH water or recovered. This separation can be performed using any standard separation technique.

[0080] This washing can be carried out in particular by bringing the composition into contact with water at neutral pH, preferably under agitation, for a sufficient time to mix the two phases, for example for a period of 15 minutes to 1 hour.

[0081] Advantageously, during the washing stage, the water / composition mass ratio can be from 1:99 to 10:90. Small quantities of water are indeed sufficient to significantly lower the heteroatom content.

[0082] This washing step can be carried out in a specific enclosure dedicated to this step. For example, an enclosure equipped with a water / oil mixing device (recirculation pump with water injection upstream of the pump, agitation device, etc.) could be used.

[0083] However, advantageously, the washing stage can also be carried out in an enclosure chosen from among a storage tank, a desalination unit, or a vessel, particularly a water / oil separator vessel. Washing can advantageously be performed in an existing enclosure of a treatment unit.

[0084] The product from the washing stage is recovered in the usual way using a water / oil separation technique, for example by centrifugation and / or decantation and / or with the application of an electric field. When separation is carried out by decantation, it can be performed in the same chamber as that used for washing.

[0085] The product recovered, in particular directly, at the end of this washing step can either constitute a refined composition, in particular a refined oil which can then be directly subjected to a hydrotreatment step, or a partially refined oil, which can then be directly subjected either to a step of removal of hydratable compounds at a pH other than a neutral pH and then to a step of removal of non-hydratable compounds, or only to a step of removal of non-hydratable compounds, before a subsequent step such as hydrotreatment. Step for removing compounds that can be hydrated at a pH other than neutral (at a basic or acidic pH)

[0086] Typically, this step allows for the removal of hydratable compounds, including phosphorus, nitrogen and metals, and some of the chlorine, which were not removed during the neutral pH water washing step.

[0087] This removal step may include one or more treatments chosen, for example, from a degumming treatment in an acidic or basic medium and a cavitation treatment. Each treatment is followed by a separation step of the oily and aqueous phases. The recovered oily phase forms a composition with a reduced content of compounds that are hydratable at a pH other than neutral. This separation can be carried out using any standard separation technique.

[0088] In particular, several degumming treatments can be carried out in acidic and basic environments in order to eliminate compounds that are hydratable at acidic and basic pH respectively.

[0089] The degumming process can be a water degumming process in which the oil to be treated is typically heated to 60–70 °C. Water with an added basic compound (e.g., NaOH) or acid (e.g., citric or phosphoric acid) is then added and mixed for about 30 minutes. The hydrated gums are then separated by centrifugation, and the degummed oil is dried under vacuum. This process often involves the addition of live steam to the product for a short period. The appropriate amount of water is normally about 75% by weight of the phosphatide content of the oil being treated. Insufficient water produces dark, viscous gums, while excessive water leads to excessive oil loss through hydrolysis. Water-degummed oil generally still contains phosphatides (between 50 and 200 ppm by mass).

[0090] The degumming treatment can be an acid treatment in which the oil to be treated is typically heated to 60-70°C, and a water-acid mixture is added and mixed for about 30 minutes. Phosphoric acid or citric acid is typically used.

[0091] Degumming can be an enzymatic degumming process in which an enzyme, for example phospholipase A1, the most recent degumming enzyme, transforms phospholipids into lysophospholipids and free fatty acids. This process involves three important steps: (1) pH adjustment with a buffer; (2) enzymatic reaction in the retention basins; and (3) separation of the sludge and the oil.

[0092] The oil to be degumed enzymatically in this way can be raw or previously degumed with water.

[0093] The Lipid Handbook (edited by Frank D. Gunstone, John L. Harwood, Albert J. Dijkstra, 3rd ed.) describes many variations and details of degumming treatments.

[0094] The treatment may be a cavitation treatment, and in particular a hydrodynamic cavitation treatment, of the oil to be treated in the presence of water under conditions effective in generating cavitation characteristics and in transferring at least part of the impurities contained in the oil into an aqueous phase.

[0095] Cavitation is the phenomenon of vapor bubble formation in a flowing liquid in regions where the liquid pressure is lower than its vapor pressure at the temperature considered.

[0096] Cavitation is a phenomenon of nucleation, growth and implosion (collapse) of cavities filled with vapor or gas, which can be obtained by the passage of ultrasound (acoustic cavitation), by a laser, by the injection of vapor into a cold fluid or by changes in flow and pressure (hydrodynamic cavitation).

[0097] Hydrodynamic cavitation can be generated by passing the mixture to be treated through one or more cavitation devices.

[0098] The hydrodynamic cavitation process can therefore include the following steps: pumping the oil to be treated through a cavitation device, generating cavitation characteristics to eliminate impurities.

[0099] Appropriate cavitation devices that can be used are disclosed, for example, in WO201098783A1, US8911808B2, US7762715B2, US8042989B2.

[0100] For example, a suitable cavitation device includes a flow path through which the fluid is pumped, such as that disclosed in US8911808B2, in which a predetermined pump pressure is preferably applied in the range of 340 kPa-34 MPa.

[0101] In hydrodynamic cavitation treatment, phosphatides are hydrated into gums, which are insoluble in oil and can be easily separated as sludge forming an aqueous phase, for example by decantation, filtration or centrifugal action.

[0102] In one embodiment, cavitation treatment, particularly hydrodynamic cavitation, can be carried out in the presence of a degumming agent. This agent can be chosen from water, steam, acids, complexing agents, and mixtures thereof.

[0103] Acids include, for example, strong acids, particularly inorganic acids such as phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid.

[0104] Complexing agents include, for example, weak organic acids (or their corresponding anhydrides) such as acetic acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, aspartic amino acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

[0105] Preferably, the degumming agent comprises water, steam, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, aspartic amino acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, a base, salts, chelating agents, crown ethers or maleic anhydride.

[0106] Cavitation treatment can be carried out at temperatures close to or below ambient temperature, for example at 15-25°C. However, hydrodynamic cavitation can be carried out between 10 and 90°C, preferably between 25 and 75°C and more preferably between 30 and 60°C.

[0107] For example, we can proceed as described in document WO2019229035A1.

[0108] The product from this removal step can be separated by one or more of the following known techniques: sedimentation, centrifugation, filtration, distillation, extraction, or washing, preferably sedimentation, centrifugation, and filtration. The product recovered after separation from the aqueous water is an oily phase that constitutes a partially refined composition or oil, which can then be subjected to a removal step to remove non-hydratable compounds. Step for removing non-hydratable compounds

[0109] Typically, this step allows the removal of non-hydratable compounds, including phosphorus, nitrogen, such as non-hydratable phosphatides (calcium and magnesium salts of phosphatic acid and phosphatidyl ethanolamine), as well as other elements such as sulfur, and / or some of the residual organic chlorine, which were not removed during the neutral pH water washing step and the optional step of removing hydratable compounds at a pH other than neutral pH.

[0110] This step typically includes one or more treatments chosen from among a bleaching treatment in which the product to be treated is brought into contact with an absorbent, a treatment in which the product to be treated is brought into contact with an ion-exchange resin, a mild acid wash, a treatment using guard beds, filtration, and solvent extraction. Each treatment is followed by a step of separating the oily and aqueous phases, the recovered oily phase forming a composition with a reduced content of non-hydratable compounds. This separation can be carried out using any separation technique.

[0111] Bleaching is a well-known technique, generally used to decolorize and purify chemically or physically refined oils. It typically removes soaps, residual phosphatides, trace metals, and certain oxidation products. It catalyzes the removal of carotene, and the adsorbent also catalyzes the decomposition of peroxides. Another function is the removal of peroxides and secondary oxidation products.

[0112] This treatment involves bringing the product to be treated into contact with an absorbent, such as adsorbent clays, synthetic amorphous silica, and activated carbon. Optionally, prior to this contact, the product to be treated can be mixed with an acid to break down the metal ion / phosphatide complexes.

[0113] The key parameters of the bleaching treatment are the type and dosage of the adsorbent, temperature, time, humidity and filtration, as indicated in the Lipids handbook, edited by Frank D. Gunstone, John L. Harwood, Albert J. Dijkstra. 3rd ed., chapter 3.7); or in the "practical guide to vegetable oil processing", 2nd edition, Monoj. K. Gupta.

[0114] Another possible treatment is ion exchange resin treatment. This treatment involves bringing the product to be treated into contact with an ion exchange resin in a pretreatment zone, under specific pretreatment conditions. The ion exchange resin is, for example, an acidic ion exchange resin such as AmberlystTM-15 and can be used as a bed in a reactor through which the product to be treated flows, either upstream or downstream.

[0115] Another possible treatment is mild acid washing. This treatment is carried out by bringing the product to be treated into contact with an acid such as sulfuric, nitric, phosphoric, or hydrochloric acid in a reactor. The acid and the product to be treated can be brought into contact in a batch or continuous process. The contact is made with a dilute acid solution, generally at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. If the contact is carried out continuously, it is usually countercurrent.

[0116] Another possible treatment is the use of guard beds, well known in the art. These can be guard beds containing alumina, with or without demetallizing catalysts such as nickel, cobalt and / or molybdenum.

[0117] Filtration and solvent extraction techniques are other options that can be used.

[0118] The product recovered, in particular directly, at the end of this step of eliminating non-hydratable compounds constitutes a composition or refined oil which can then be subjected to a step of conversion into fuel of natural origin, preferably by hydrotreatment. Hydrotreatment stage

[0119] The process for reducing the heteroatom content of a renewable oil composition according to the invention may further include (E3) a hydrotreatment step of the product directly from step (E2) or (E'2).

[0120] The composition treated in this hydrotreatment step is thus a refined composition, preferably directly from one of the treatments (i) to (iv).

[0121] This refined composition typically exhibits at least one of the following characteristics, preferably all of them: A phosphorus content of less than 200 ppm, preferably less than 100 ppm or 50 ppm, preferably less than 3 ppm; a nitrogen content of less than 200 ppm, preferably less than 100 ppm, preferably less than 50 ppm; a chlorine content of less than 50 ppm, preferably less than 20 ppm, preferably less than 5 ppm; a metal content of less than 50 ppm, preferably less than 10 ppm

[0122] In one embodiment, the refined composition may be hydrotreated and blended with one or more mineral hydrocarbon fractions. The mineral hydrocarbon fraction(s) may be of the naphtha, kerosene, or diesel type. This mineral hydrocarbon fraction may be added in quantities ranging from 1 to 98% by mass or from 1 to 95% by mass, or within any range defined by two of these limits. This mineral hydrocarbon fraction, which contains sulfur compounds, generally organic, will provide the sulfur necessary to maintain the catalytic activity of the catalyst containing cobalt, nickel, tungsten, and molybdenum. Simultaneously, the mineral hydrocarbon fraction is also at least partially desulfurized.

[0123] This hydrotreating step is typically carried out in the presence of dihydrogen and at least one catalyst to transform fatty acid esters and free fatty acids, contained in the product directly from one of treatments (i) to (iv), into linear or substantially linear paraffins. Hydrotreating can be performed between 100 and 550°C in the presence of dihydrogen at pressures ranging from 0.01 to 10 MPa. The ratio of dihydrogen to feedstock can be from 100 to 2000 Nl / l.

[0124] This hydrotreatment may include one or more steps chosen from hydrodeoxygenation, decarboxylation and decarbonylation.

[0125] Hydrodeoxygenation is preferably carried out in continuous fixed bed reactors, continuous stirred tank reactors or slurry type reactors containing a solid catalyst which can be selected from oxides or sulfides of Ni, Mo, W, Co or mixtures such as NiW, NiMo, CoMo, NiCoW, NiCoMo, NiMoW and CoMoW as the catalytic phase, preferably supported on carbon, alumina, silica, titanium oxide or zirconia.

[0126] Hydrodeoxygenation can be carried out at a temperature of 200 to 500°C, preferably 220 to 400°C, under a pressure of 1 MPa to 10 MPa (10 to 100 bar), for example 6 MPa, and with a dihydrogen / oil ratio of 100 to 2000, but preferably 350 to 1500, for example 800 NI H 2 / l of oil.

[0127] Decarboxylation and / or decarbonylation is preferably carried out in the presence of a solid catalyst in batch reactors, continuous fixed-bed reactors, continuously stirred-tank reactors, or slurry reactors. Decarboxylation and / or decarbonylation can be performed directly with glycerides, any esters, or free fatty acids.

[0128] The catalyst can be chosen from: oxides or sulfides of Ni, Mo, W, Co, NiW, NiMo, CoMo, NiCoW, NiCoMo, NiMoW and CoMoW as a catalytic phase, preferably supported on carbon, alumina, silica, titanium oxide or zirconia, or metals or alloy mixtures of Group 10 (Ni, Pt and Pd) and Group 11 (Cu and Ag) supported by carbon, magnesia, zinc oxide, spinels (Mg2Al2O4, ZnAl2O4), perovskites (BaTiO3, ZnTiO3), calcium silicates (such as xonotlite), alumina, silica or silica-aluminas or mixtures thereof.

[0129] For optimal performance and stable continuous operation, it is preferable that the active metallic component of the catalyst, in the case of Ni, Mo, W, Co, or mixtures, be in sulfide form. Therefore, it is preferable that traces of decomposable (thermally or catalytically) sulfide compounds be present or intentionally added to the feedstock to maintain the metallic sulfide in its sulfide state. Examples of these sulfur compounds include H₂S, COS, CS₂, mercaptans (e.g., methyl sulfide), thioethers (e.g., dimethyl sulfide), disulfides (e.g., dimethyl disulfide), thiophenic compounds, and tetrahydrothiophenic compounds.

[0130] Decarboxylation and / or decarbonylation can also be carried out on basic oxides, such as alkali metal oxides, alkali-earth oxides, lanthanide oxides, zinc oxide, spinels (Mg2Al2O4, ZnAl2O4), perovskites (BaTiO3, ZnTiO3), calcium silicates (such as xonotlite), either in bulk or dispersed on neutral or basic supports, on basic zeolites (such as low silica / alumina alkali or alkaline-earth zeolites obtained by exchange or impregnation).

[0131] Although the decarboxylation and / or decarbonylation reaction does not require dihydrogen, it is preferable for decarboxylation and / or decarbonylation to be carried out in the presence of dihydrogen, which will stabilize the catalytic activity by removing strongly adsorbed unsaturated species (for example, when decarbonylation is the predominant reaction pathway) from the catalyst surface through hydrogen addition reactions. The presence of dihydrogen can also hydrogenate the double bonds present in the acyl portion of the fatty acid to obtain paraffinic reaction products from the decarboxylation process.

[0132] The decarboxylation and / or decarbonylation step can be carried out between 100 and 550°C in the presence of dihydrogen at pressures ranging from 0.01 to 10 MPa. The ratio between dihydrogen and feedstock can be from 100 to 2000 Nl / l. System for determining the elimination treatment of heteroatoms

[0133] The invention also relates to a system for determining the heteroatom removal treatment to be applied to a composition of natural origin to achieve a target content of at least one heteroatom, configured, in particular programmed, to implement steps (a) to (c) of the determination process according to the invention.

[0134] The determination system typically includes one or more processors, for example a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or the like. It can be configured to receive the total content of said composition in at least one heteroatom chosen from phosphorus and nitrogen, and the total content of said composition in hydratable compounds of at least one heteroatom.

[0135] It typically includes output or input / output interfaces. These may be wireless communication interfaces (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other) or connectors (network port, USB port, serial port, FireWire® port, SCSI port, or other). These input and / or output interfaces can form means of communication, optionally bidirectional, between the determination system and, for example, a user interface, allowing the system to receive information related to the composition.

[0136] The determination system may also include storage means such as random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, external memory, or other storage devices. These storage means may, among other things, store received data, measured values, calculated values, a database and / or a model, and one or more computer programs.

[0137] The system can therefore include at least one processor configured to: (a) to determine the total content of said composition in at least one heteroatom selected from phosphorus and nitrogen, to determine the total content of said composition in hydratable compounds of at least one heteroatom, and to determine, as a parameter representative of the quality of the composition, the ratio of the total content of at least one heteroatom present in the identified hydratable compounds of that heteroatom at neutral pH to the total content of the composition of that heteroatom, this ratio being determined for phosphorus, for nitrogen, or for each of these two heteroatoms; (b) to estimate a residual content of at least one heteroatom selected from phosphorus and nitrogen, from the representative parameter, this residual content corresponding to the content of at least one heteroatom after the removal of the hydratable compounds at pH=7 containing that heteroatom.(c) determine a treatment to be applied to said composition to achieve a target content of at least one heteroatom at the outlet of the treatment, this treatment being selected from: (i) washing with water at neutral pH, (ii) washing with water at neutral pH followed by a step of removal of non-hydratable compounds, (iii) washing with water at neutral pH followed by a step of removal of hydratable compounds at a pH other than neutral pH, (iv) washing with water at neutral pH followed by a step of removal of hydratable compounds at a pH other than neutral pH and then a step of removal of non-hydratable compounds, at least one processor being configured for: compare the said residual content to the target content and choose the treatment (i) if the residual content is less than or equal to the target content, otherwise, use a database or a model configured to provide, an estimate of a content of at least one heteroatom at the output of each treatment (ii) to (iv) as a function of a content of that heteroatom at the input of the treatment equal to the residual content, and choose the treatment for which the estimated output content is less than or equal to the target content, and optionally for which the number of treatment steps is the lowest.

[0138] At least one processor can also be configured to: (c) if none of the estimated output concentrations is less than or equal to the target concentration, repeat steps (a) to (c) after diluting said natural composition with another natural composition, optionally a composition having a quality parameter greater than that of said composition, and / or (c) select a treatment and the operating conditions of that treatment for which the estimated output concentration is less than or equal to the target concentration, and optionally for which the number of treatment steps is the lowest and / or the amount of reagent used is the lowest, the database or model being configured to provide an estimate, for each treatment (ii) to (iv), of the concentrations of at least one heteroatom in the output of said treatment, obtained for different operating conditions of treatments (i) to (iv)

[0139] In all cases, at least one processor can receive data via one or more input interfaces, or input and output interfaces, including those of the type mentioned above, and can store a database or a model in storage means, including those of the type mentioned above. Figures

[0140] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings in which: There figure 1 This schematically represents an example of implementing the treatment process according to the invention. figure 2 schematically represents a washing chamber. figure 3 is a table representing the chemical formulas of phospholipids in water as a function of pH, the R group represents a diglyceride.

[0141] There figure 1schematically represents a process for reducing the heteroatom content of a naturally occurring composition H.

[0142] The natural composition H to be treated is first subjected to step (a) of determination of a parameter Q representative of its quality, here the parameter relating to the phosphorus content.

[0143] This parameter Q can be written (equation 1): [Math 1] Q = ∑ PC , Sels P ; PI P Or Σ[ PC, Salts P; PI [P] represents the total phosphorus content of composition H present in the hydratable phosphorus compounds at neutral pH, namely the hydratable phosphorus salts, PC and PI, and [P] represents the total (elemental) phosphorus content of composition H.

[0144] In step (b) the residual phosphorus content, denoted [P]r, is estimated from the parameter Q. This residual content corresponds to the total phosphorus content minus the phosphorus content present in hydratable phosphorus compounds at neutral pH and can therefore be calculated as follows (equation 2): [Math 2] P r = P × 1 − Q

[0145] In step (c), this residual content [P]r is then compared to the desired target content (denoted [P]c) and one of the treatments (i) to (iv) as previously described is chosen, and the composition is subjected to the selected treatment, which makes it possible to obtain a refined composition.

[0146] Thus, as represented on the figure 1 : If [P]r < [P]c, only the water washing step at neutral pH E1(a) is implemented before the hydrotreatment step E3. If [P]r > [P]c, it will be possible to implement, before the hydrotreatment step E3, the succession of steps E1(a) and E1(c) (removal of non-hydratable compounds), the succession of steps E1(a), E1(b) (removal of compounds hydratable at a pH other than neutral pH), or the succession of steps E1(a), E1(b), E1(c).

[0147] There figure 2 represents a container 1, for example a storage tank or a desalination tank containing composition H. This container 1 is equipped with a recirculation circuit 2 fitted with a pump 3. Upstream of the pump 3 with respect to the direction of recirculation of the recirculation circuit 2, a pipe 4 allows water to be injected into the circuit 2. A withdrawal pipe 5 located at the bottom of the container 1 allows the oil to be recovered after washing with water. Examples: Example 1: Analysis of the phosphorus content of different compositions of natural origin

[0148] Table 1 summarizes the results of the analysis of the organic phase and the aqueous phase recovered after a liquid / liquid extraction of different compositions with an aqueous solution at pH = 7 containing EDTA.

[0149] 31P NMR measurements in the organic phase were carried out in deuterated chloroform (CDCl3) and those carried out in the aqueous phase were carried out in a mixture of deuterated water (D2O) and methyl alcohol (MeOH), for example according to the protocol described below.

[0150] A precise quantity of renewable oil sample is taken in a vial to which a precise quantity of an organic-soluble phosphorus standard and an aqueous-soluble phosphorus standard are added. This sample is then solubilized in deuterated chloroform. A 0.2 M EDTA solution at pH 7 in MeOH / D₂O is then added to maximize analytical resolution, based on the following literature: T. Glonek, M. Lunde, M. Mudgett, T.C. Myers (1971) Studies of Biological Polyphosphate Through the Use of Phosphorus-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. In: Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, vol. 142, pp. 508–513; T.O. Henderson, T. Glonek, T.C. Myers (1974) Phosphorus-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Phospholipids. In: Biochemistry, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 623-628. The aqueous and organic phases are then separated by decantation overnight and analyzed separately by 31P NMR.Species identification is achieved through their chemical shift by comparison with equivalent structural standards, and their quantification is achieved by the ratio of the intensity of their signal 31< P to the intensity of the standard soluble in the same phase initially introduced into the sample.

[0151] Composition C1 is poultry fat, composition C2 is a mixture of fats from several animals, composition C3 is pork fat. [Table 1] Composition C1 C2 C3 Unit Elemental analysis of composition by XRF P content ppm (element 31< P) 500 132 751 31P NMR analysis of the organic phase P content present in PC ppm (element 31< P) 87 32 42 P content present in PI ppm (element 31< P) ND 8 8 P content present in other phosphorus-containing compounds ppm (element 31< P) 233 35 32 Total phosphorus content present in organic compounds containing phosphorus ppm (element 31< P) 320 75 82 31P NMR analysis of the aqueous phase Phosphate (P) content present in phosphates ppm (element 31< P) 165 35 421 P content present in other phosphorus compounds ppm (element 31< P) ND ND 20 Total phosphorus content of the composition obtained by NMR analysis P content ppm (element 31< P) 485 110 524 Total P content present in hydratable P compounds at pH 7 P content ppm (element 31< P) 252 75 491 Parameter Q 0,50 0,57 0,65

[0152] The data in Table 1 allow us to calculate the total content of hydratable phosphorus compounds at pH 7 (corresponding to the sum of the P contents from PC and PI and the aqueous phase - the added values ​​are in bold in the table) and the parameter Q representing the quality of each of the compositions calculated by dividing the total P content present in the hydratable P compounds at pH 7 by the total P content of the composition measured by XRF. Example 2 - Washing with neutral pH water

[0153] Composition C3 of example 1 was subjected to a wash with water at neutral pH with water / grease ratios of 4, 8 and 12.

[0154] Water and fat were separated by centrifugation at 4800 g before measuring the phosphorus content of the oily phase.

[0155] Table 2 shows the phosphorus content of the oil phase measured by XRF for the different ratios tested. [Table 2] C3 composition treatment Phosphorus content (ppm) Water / fat ratio (% of body weight) Phosphorus content of the oil phase (ppm) No treatment 751 - - Wash with water 4 7.2 8 7.8 12 6.6

[0156] It should be noted that a significant reduction in phosphorus is observed even with a water wash containing 4% water. Thus, for a grease composition with a C3 composition quality parameter of 0.65, a water wash step removes almost all of the phosphorus present in the composition, which could then potentially be treated directly in a hydrotreating unit to produce fuel according to the phosphorus specification of the feedstocks entering that hydrotreating unit.

Claims

1. A method for determining a parameter representative of the quality of a composition of natural origin comprising heteroatoms and lipids selected from phenolic lipids, fatty acids, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, fatty-acid esters and / or a mixture of two or more of these compounds, where the method comprises: (A) determining the total concentration of at least one heteroatom selected from phosphorus and nitrogen in said composition, (B) identifying the compounds with at least one heteroatom hydratable at neutral pH and determining the total concentration of said composition with at least one heteroatom present in the identified compounds with this heteroatom hydratable at neutral pH, (C) determining as parameter representative of the quality of the composition from the ratio of the total concentration of at least one heteroatom present in the identified compounds with this heteroatom hydratable at neutral pH to the total concentration of the composition with this heteroatom, where this ratio is determined for phosphorus, nitrogen or for each of these two heteroatoms.

2. The determination method according to claim 1, wherein step (B) is done by means of an analysis technique selected from NMR, mass spectroscopy, ion chromatography, liquid-phase chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and high-performance thin layer chromatography.

3. The determination method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said composition of natural origin contains one or more oils selected from a vegetable oil, an animal oil or fat, a used oil, an oil produced by microorganisms, esters resulting from the transesterification of fatty-acid esters contained in one or more of these oils, and also mixtures thereof.

4. A process of determining the heteroatom elimination treatment to be applied to a composition of natural origin comprising heteroatoms and lipids selected from phenolic lipids, fatty acids, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, fatty-acid esters and / or a mixture of two or more of these compounds for reaching a target concentration for at least one heteroatom, where the process comprises: (a) a step of determining the at least one parameter representative of the quality of the composition by means of the determination method, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, (b) a step of estimating a residual concentration of at least one heteroatom selected from phosphorus and nitrogen, based on the representative parameter, where this residual concentration corresponds to the concentration of at least one heteroatom after eliminating compounds hydratable at pH = 7 containing this heteroatom, (c) a step of determining a treatment to be applied to said composition for reaching a target concentration of the at least one heteroatom on output from the treatment, where said treatment is selected from: (i) washing with neutral pH water, (ii) washing with neutral pH water followed by a step of eliminating non-hydratable compounds, (iii) washing with neutral pH water followed by a step of eliminating compounds hydratable at a pH other than a neutral pH, (iv) washing with neutral pH water followed by a step of eliminating compounds hydratable at a pH other than a neutral pH then a step of eliminating non-hydratable compounds, wherein said residual concentration is compared to the target concentration, and the treatment (i) is selected if the residual concentration is less than or equal to the target concentration, otherwise, a database or a model is used configured for providing an estimate for a concentration of the at least one heteroatom on output from each treatment (ii) to (iv) as a function of a concentration of this heteroatom on input to the treatment equal to the residual concentration, and the treatment is selected for which the estimated output concentration is less than or equal to the target concentration, and optionally for which the number of treatment steps is fewer.

5. The determination process according to claim 4, wherein, during the step (c), if none of the estimated output concentrations is less than or equal to the target concentration, the steps (a) to (c) are iterated by diluting said composition of natural origin with another composition of natural origin, optionally a composition having a parameter representative of the quality of the composition greater than that of said composition.

6. The determination process according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, the database or the model is configured for providing an estimate, for each treatment (ii) to (iv), of the concentrations of the at least one heteroatom on output from said treatment, obtained for various operating conditions of the treatments (i) to (iv) and during the step (c), a treatment and the operating conditions for this treatment are selected for which the estimated output concentration is less than or equal to the target concentration, and optionally for which the number of treatment steps is the fewest and / or for which the quantity of reagent used is the smallest.

7. The determination process according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein said composition of natural origin contains one or more oils selected from a vegetable oil, an animal oil or fat, a used oil, an oil produced by microorganisms, esters resulting from the transesterification of fatty-acid esters contained in one or more of these oils, and also mixtures thereof.

8. A process for reducing the heteroatom concentration of a composition of natural origin comprising heteroatoms and lipids selected from phenolic lipids, fatty acids, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, fatty-acid esters and / or a mixture of two or more of these compounds, where the process comprises: (E1) a step of determining the heteroatom elimination treatment to be applied to the composition of natural origin to reach a target concentration in at least one heteroatom, by means of the determination process according to any one of claims 4 to 7, and (E2) a step during which said composition of natural origin undergoes the treatment determined in step (E1).

9. A process for reducing the heteroatom concentration of a composition of natural origin comprising heteroatoms and lipids selected from phenolic lipids, fatty acids, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, fatty-acid esters and / or a mixture of two or more of these compounds, where the process comprises: (E'2) a heteroatom elimination step during which the composition of natural origin undergoes a treatment selected from: (i) washing with neutral pH water, (ii) washing with neutral pH water followed by a step of eliminating non-hydratable compounds, (iii) washing with neutral pH water followed by a step of eliminating compounds hydratable at a pH other than a neutral pH, (iv) washing with neutral pH water followed by a step of eliminating compounds hydratable at a pH other than a neutral pH then a step of eliminating non-hydratable compounds, and wherein, the composition of natural origin has a parameter representative of the quality of the composition, previously determined by means of the determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is greater than or equal to a threshold beyond which the elimination step is sufficiently effective for reducing the heteroatom concentration of said composition to a target concentration or below the target concentration.

10. The reduction process according to claims 8 or 9, further comprising (E3) a step of hydrotreatment of the product coming directly from step (E2) or (E'2).

11. The reduction process according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the composition of natural origin contains one or more oils selected from a vegetable oil, an animal oil or fat, a used oil, an oil produced by microorganisms, esters resulting from the transesterification of fatty-acid esters contained in one or more of these oils, and also mixtures thereof.

12. The reduction process according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein, during step (E2) or (E'2), the washing with neutral pH water for each of the treatments (i) to (iv) is done with the ratio by mass of water to composition from 1:99 to 10:90.

13. The reduction process according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein, during step (E2) or (E'2), the washing with neutral pH water for each of the treatments (i) to (iv) is done in an enclosure selected from a storage tank, a wash container, and a round bottom flask.

14. A system for determining the heteroatom elimination treatment to be applied to a composition of natural origin for reaching a target concentration in at least one heteroatom, configured for using steps (a) to (c) of the determination process according to any one of claims 4 to 6, where the system comprises at least one processor configured for: (a) receiving the total concentration in said composition of at least one heteroatom selected from phosphorus and nitrogen and the total concentration in said composition of hydratable compounds with at least one heteroatom, and for determining as a parameter representative of the quality of the composition, the ratio of the total concentration of at least one heteroatom present in the identified compounds with this heteroatom hydratable at neutral pH to the total concentration in the composition with this heteroatom, where this ratio is determined for phosphorus, nitrogen or each of these two heteroatoms, (b) estimating a residual concentration of at least one heteroatom selected from phosphorus and nitrogen, based on the representative parameter, where this residual concentration corresponds to the concentration of at least one heteroatom after eliminating compounds hydratable at pH = 7 containing this heteroatom, (c) determining a treatment to be applied to said composition for reaching a target concentration of the at least one heteroatom on output from the treatment, where this treatment is selected from: (i) washing with neutral pH water, (ii) washing with neutral pH water followed by a step of eliminating non-hydratable compounds, (iii) washing with neutral pH water followed by a step of eliminating compounds hydratable at a pH other than a neutral pH, (iv) washing with neutral pH water followed by a step of eliminating compounds hydratable at a pH other than a neutral pH then a step of eliminating non-hydratable compounds, where the at least one processor is configured for: comparing said residual concentration to the target concentration, and selecting the treatment (i) if the residual concentration is less than or equal to the target concentration, otherwise, using a database or a model configured for providing an estimate for a concentration of the at least one heteroatom on output from each treatment (ii) to (iv) as a function of a concentration of this heteroatom on input to the treatment equal to the residual concentration, and selecting the treatment for which the estimated output concentration is less than or equal to the target concentration, and optionally for which the number of treatment steps is fewer.

15. The determining system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for: (c) if none of the estimated output concentrations is less than or equal to the target concentration, iterating the steps (a) to (c) after dilution of said composition of natural origin with another composition of natural origin, optionally a composition having a parameter representative of the quality of the composition greater than that of said composition, and / or (c) selecting a treatment and the operating conditions for this treatment for which the estimated output concentration is less than or equal to the target concentration, and optionally for which the number of treatment steps is fewer and / or for which the quantity of reagent used is less, where the database or the model is configured for providing an estimate for each treatment (ii) to (iv) of the concentrations of the at least one heteroatom on output from said treatment, obtained for various operating conditions of the treatments (i) to (iv).

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