Renewable Oil Purification via Lipophilic Solvent Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for converting biological oils and fats into diesel fuel face challenges due to high phosphorus and metal impurities, which lead to catalyst deactivation, side reactions, and poor low-temperature properties, necessitating effective purification processes to produce high-quality renewable fuel components.
Innovation Solution
A method involving preliminary pretreatment and post-treatment of renewable oil feedstocks, where dilution with an organic lipophilic solvent reduces impurity concentrations, enhancing purification efficiency and throughput, and includes processes like degumming and bleaching to remove phosphorus and metal impurities before hydrotreatment and isomerization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If biological oils and fats are directly used as fuel components, then renewable fuel production is achieved, but viscosity is extremely high and stability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by converting the chemical composition of biological oils through hydrodeoxygenation, removing oxygen to transform triglycerides into hydrocarbons with diesel-like properties, thereby improving stability while maintaining renewable fuel production
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional purification methods are used to remove impurities, then phosphorus and metal content is reduced, but catalyst deactivation and side reactions still occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a multi-stage purification process before hydrotreatment, including degumming to remove phospholipids and bleaching to remove colored impurities and metals, thereby protecting the catalyst from deactivation and side reactions
3Quantity of substance
If animal fat is used as feedstock, then shorter fatty acid chains are obtained with excellent fuel properties, but metal soap formation increases causing plugging and catalyst deactivation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by removing metal soaps through centrifugation and filtration stages, separating these harmful byproducts from the oil stream before hydrotreatment, thereby preventing plugging and catalyst deactivation while maintaining the quality benefits of animal fat feedstock
4Manufacturing precision
If high impurity content oil is processed, then purification demand increases, but throughput decreases due to frequent catalyst regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing comprehensive pre-purification steps (degumming, bleaching, centrifugation) before hydrotreatment to remove impurities that would otherwise require frequent catalyst regeneration, thereby maintaining high throughput while meeting purification requirements
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
The method effectively lowers impurity levels, suppresses side reactions, increases purification capability, and extends catalyst life by reducing viscosity and plugging tendencies, resulting in improved diesel fuel properties and increased maintenance cycles.
Implementation Method 1
dilution with an organic lipophilic solvent reduces impurity concentrations, enhancing purification efficiency and throughput
Implementation Method 2
reduces viscosity and plugging tendencies
Implementation Method 3
at least one pretreatment process for removal of phosphorus and metal impurities
Implementation Method 4
includes processes like degumming and bleaching to remove phosphorus and metal impurities
Implementation Method 5
During hydrotreating, in particular hydrodeoxygenation, oxygen containing groups are reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, and oxygen is removed through formation of water
Implementation Method 6
subsequently feeding the resulting purified feedstock into at least one post-treatment process suitable for producing liquid fuel components
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention related to a method for producing liquid fuel components from renewable oil. In this method a fresh feedstock comprising saturated fatty acids is subjected to dilution by an organic lipophilic solvent. The solvent has a low phosphorus and metal impurity content, less than 5 ppm and less than 10 ppm, respectively. Dilution is performed before and/or during purification by at least one pretreatment process for removal of phosphorus and metal impurities. Subsequently, the resulting purified feedstock is fed into at least one post-treatment process suitable for producing liquid fuel components.