Method of alcoholisis of fatty acids and fatty acid gyicerides

摘要

At least one of transesterification, esterification and hydrolysis can occur with a method as shown and described herein. Preferably pressures are lower than supercritical pressures for the alcohol employed and the conversion rate is at least 95%, if not 99% in a single reactor which may be counter or co-flow or even a batch process. Meanwhile, bound glycerin may be separated from alkyl esters for at least some processes.

主权项

1. A method comprising the steps of:
providing a single reactor containing (a) a feedstock having at least one of free fatty acids and bound glycerides, (b) a monohydric aliphatic alcohol, and (c) at least one catalyst selected from the group of activated clay, activated diatomaceous earth, silica zeolite, NiO on Aluminum substrate alloys of steel containing nickel, stainless steel, nickel, palladium, palladium on Aluminum substrate, platinum, iron, zinc, alumina substrate and aluminum catalysts, at a pressure less than the supercritical pressure of the alcohol; wherein said single reactor performs the steps selected from the group of (a) transesterification, (b) esterification, and (c) simultaneously performing the steps of transesterification as well as esterification, wherein (i) the fatty acid glycerides are converted into alkyl esters with the transesterification process, if performed, and (ii) free fatty acids are converted into alkyl esters with the esterification process, if performed, to achieve a conversion in the reactor of Acid Number (AN) from at least about 30 to less than about 1; and wherein the process is performed as a continuous process in the single reactor.