A DEVICE FOR THE TRANSESTERIFICATION OF ANIMAL AND PLANT GLYCERIDES INTO FATTY ACID ALKYL ESTERS FOR SMALL SCALE PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL AND VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS

摘要

The present invention relates to a device for the small scale and portable production of transesterified fatty acid alkyl esters for use as biodiesel or other applications. The invention allows for the economic production in small scale and portable equipment which transesterifies various glycerides including waste vegetable oil, animal fats, and/or virgin vegetable oil singly or in admixtures of various ratios. A primary vessel (1 ) which is fitted with immersion heaters or other heating means (5) contains glycerides which are heated to reaction temperature. A reservoir (2) which contains an alkaline solution, for example sodium or potassium hydroxide dissolved in an alcohol, particularly methanol, is connected to primary vessel (1) with a piping system and in-line pump (4) in a pipe loop which permits the mixture of the glycerides with the strong base and alcohol mixture. Transparent piping, for example transparent tubing (14), is installed on the side of the primary vessel (1) to permit visual examination and act as a manometer. Once transesterification takes place, the bottom phase, which contains glycerol and other residues, is removed through transparent tubing fitted to a clean out pipe mounted at the bottom of the primary vessel (1 ). The resulting fatty acid alkyl esters are then purified by the addition of cleaning reagents, including magnesium silicate in one embodiment or a mild acid in another embodiment, in primary vessel (1).