Oxidizing Agent Desulfurization of Fatty Acid Derivatives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for desulfurizing biodiesel and fatty acid derivatives are inefficient, result in high energy consumption, material loss, and undesirable modifications, such as fat hardening, due to the inability to effectively remove sulfur compounds present in waste fats and vegetable oils, especially those in the form of elemental sulfur and sulfur compounds.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an anhydrous reaction mixture with an alkaline environment and the use of an oxidizing agent to oxidize elemental sulfur and sulfur compounds in the presence of fatty acid derivatives, allowing for their conversion into forms that can be effectively removed by a hydrophilic phase, thereby avoiding damage to the fatty acid derivatives and reducing sulfur content without distillation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional hydrodesulfurization is used to remove sulfur compounds, then sulfur content is reduced, but double bonds in fatty acids are saturated leading to fat hardening and increased pour point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs strong oxidizing agents (peracids, hydrogen peroxide, or oxygen with catalysts) to oxidize sulfur compounds in the form of elemental sulfur or sulfur compounds to water-soluble forms, enabling their removal without saturating the double bonds of fatty acid derivatives, thus avoiding fat hardening
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical state of sulfur compounds through oxidation, converting them from lipophilic forms (elemental sulfur and sulfur compounds) to hydrophilic forms that can be extracted by aqueous phases, while maintaining the unsaturation of fatty acid derivatives
2Quantity of substance
If distillation is used to remove sulfur compounds, then sulfur content is reduced, but energy consumption increases and material loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts sulfur compounds from the fatty acid derivative mixture by converting them to water-soluble oxidation products that can be separated by aqueous phase extraction, avoiding the need for energy-intensive distillation processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses oxidizing agents as intermediaries to convert sulfur compounds into forms that can be easily separated by aqueous phases, providing a low-energy alternative to direct thermal separation methods
3Quantity of substance
If conventional extraction with hydrophilic phase is used, then some sulfur compounds are removed, but elemental sulfur and less hydrophilic sulfur compounds cannot be adequately removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary oxidation of sulfur compounds to convert them into water-soluble forms before extraction, ensuring that all sulfur compounds including elemental sulfur and less hydrophilic varieties are transformed into extractable forms, thereby achieving complete desulfurization
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 method enables efficient desulfurization with minimal energy consumption and material loss, allowing for higher proportions of raw materials with high sulfur content to be used, while preventing fat hardening and maintaining product usability.
Implementation Method 1
a reaction mixture is prepared which contains an oxidizing agent and a starting material mixture... the elementary sulfur is oxidized in the presence of the fatty acid derivatives and/or the sulfur compounds are oxidized
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for oxidizing elemental sulfur and/or sulfur compounds in the presence of fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives, comprising at least the steps of: (a) preparing a reaction mixture containing an oxidizing agent and a starting material mixture, wherein the starting material mixture contains fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives, and wherein the starting material mixture contains elemental sulfur and/or sulfur compounds; and (b) reacting the reaction mixture prepared in step (a), characterized in that the reaction mixture has an alkaline environment and a first hydrophilic phase having an alkaline environment is added in step (a) and/or after step (b).