Tallow Oil Metal Removal Using Immiscible Ionic Liquids
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for removing metals from tallow oils are inadequate, particularly in reducing iron content which acts as a catalyst poison, and existing ionic liquid technologies are not effective without dilution, limiting the efficiency of metal extraction.
Innovation Solution
A process utilizing tallow-immiscible ionic liquids, such as imidazolium, pyridinium, and phosphonium ionic liquids, is employed to extract metals from tallow oils, with the addition of water enhancing immiscibility and facilitating the separation of metals, achieving significant metal removal rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ionic liquid is used to extract metals from tallow oil, then metal removal efficiency is improved, but the ionic liquid mixes with tallow oil making separation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters of the ionic liquid system by adding water to create a ternary system (ionic liquid + water + tallow oil). This parameter change modifies the miscibility characteristics, causing the ionic liquid to become immiscible with tallow oil when water is present, thereby enabling easy phase separation while maintaining metal extraction capability
Solution Approach 2:
Water acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the ionic liquid and tallow oil. The addition of water creates immiscibility between the ionic liquid and tallow oil phases, allowing for easy separation while the ionic liquid phase retains its metal extraction function. The water facilitates the phase separation process without interfering with the metal removal mechanism
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional metal removal processes are used, then process simplicity is maintained, but metal content reduction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction principle by introducing ionic liquid as a selective extracting agent that selectively removes metal impurities from tallow oil. The ionic liquid extracts metals from the tallow oil phase through liquid-liquid extraction, achieving significant metal content reduction (up to 90% iron removal) while maintaining relative process simplicity through a single extraction step
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the treatment system by introducing ionic liquid with specific functional groups that have high affinity for metal ions. This parameter change in the chemical environment enables efficient metal removal that conventional processes cannot achieve, while the addition of water controls the extraction efficiency and phase behavior
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 process effectively reduces metal content in tallow oils by up to 90% of iron and other metals, improving the quality of tallow for biodiesel production and other applications by forming a separate phase with tallow oils, allowing for efficient extraction and separation.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the tallow oil comprising the metal with a tallow-immiscible ionic liquid to produce a mixture comprising the tallow and the tallow-immiscible ionic liquid
Implementation Method 2
The addition of water may be necessary to enhance the tallow immiscibility of the ionic liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A process for removing a metal from a tallow feed includes contacting the tallow feed comprising the metal with a tallow oil-immiscible ionic liquid to produce a tallow oil and TALLOW-immiscible ionic liquid mixture, and separating the mixture to produce a tallow oil effluent having a reduced metal content relative to the tallow feed. The metals removed include iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, and potassium.