Fatty Acid Purification via Supercritical CO2 Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying renewable feedstocks containing fatty acids, such as degumming and bleaching, are inefficient and result in yield loss and the generation of waste, while also failing to effectively remove contaminants like phosphorus, silicon, and metals, which are detrimental to biofuel production.
Innovation Solution
A process involving treatment of the feedstock with an aqueous medium at temperatures between 150°C and 210°C under pressures of 5 to 70 bar, separating a purified oil stream from an aqueous stream containing impurities, thereby removing phosphorus, silicon, and metals without degrading valuable compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional degumming and bleaching processes are used to purify renewable feedstock, then some impurities are removed, but significant yield loss occurs and spent bleaching earth waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameters of the purification process by using supercritical carbon dioxide instead of conventional solvents and conditions. The supercritical state of CO2 (achieved at specific temperature and pressure parameters) enables effective purification without the yield losses and waste generation associated with traditional degumming and bleaching processes
Solution Approach 2:
Carbon dioxide acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the removal of impurities from renewable feedstock. The supercritical CO2 selectively extracts contaminants while leaving the valuable fatty acid components intact, thereby achieving purification without significant yield loss
2Manufacturing precision
If lye is used for saponification to separate fatty acids from phosphorus compounds, then phosphorus compounds are removed, but yield loss occurs due to oil removal with impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The invention avoids saponification chemistry entirely by using supercritical fluid extraction parameters. The supercritical CO2 selectively dissolves phosphorus compounds based on solubility parameters rather than chemical reaction, preventing the formation of soaps and the associated yield losses from oil co-removal
3Manufacturing precision
If bleaching earth is used to remove impurities, then purification is achieved, but significant amounts of spent bleaching earth waste are generated
Solution Approach 1:
Carbon dioxide serves as a clean intermediary that can be easily separated from the purified product by pressure reduction. Unlike bleaching earth which becomes contaminated and requires disposal, the CO2 intermediary is recovered and can be reused, eliminating the generation of spent adsorbent waste
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements recovery of the carbon dioxide intermediary by simple pressure reduction after extraction. The CO2 transitions from supercritical to gaseous state, allowing easy separation and recovery of both the purified feedstock and the CO2 for reuse, thereby eliminating waste generation
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional purification processes are used, then some contaminants are removed, but contaminants detrimental to converting catalysts remain
Solution Approach 1:
The supercritical state of carbon dioxide provides enhanced solubility parameters that enable selective extraction of trace contaminants including metals and other catalyst-poisoning substances. The tuned parameters of supercritical CO2 allow for more complete contaminant removal compared to conventional liquid-phase processes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process effectively removes impurities while maintaining the structure of valuable organic compounds, reducing waste, and improving the suitability of the feedstock for biofuel production with high yield and low residual impurities.
Implementation Method 1
the renewable feedstock comprising at least one fatty acid is treated in a treating step with an aqueous medium at the temperature from 150 to 210° C., under a pressure from 5 to 70 bar (abs), where the ratio of the renewable feedstock comprising at least one fatty acid to the aqueous medium is from 1:5 to 5:1, respectively, and a first stream comprising water and a second stream comprising oil are obtained
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to process for purifying renewable feedstock comprising at least one acidulated soap-stock, wherein said process comprises the steps, where the renewable feedstock comprising at least one fatty acid is treated in a treating step with an aqueous medium, and a first stream comprising water and a second stream comprising fatty acids are obtained, and the second stream is obtained as purified renewable feedstock.