PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DIESEL FUEL OIL FROM FAT

摘要

A process for producing the methyl esters of fatty acids as a fat-derived diesel fuel oil, which is attracting attention as a biomass energy, in which the glycerol generated as a by-product is treated or effectively used. The process, which is for producing a diesel fuel from a fat, comprises subjecting the fat and methanol to transesterification to thereby produce fatty acid methyl esters for use as a diesel fuel, and is characterized by including the step of converting the by-product glycerol to methanol and by using this methanol as a raw material to be fed to the transesterification reaction. The step of converting the by-product glycerol to methanol comprises adding water to the glycerol in at least an equimolar amount, gasifying the resultant mixture under the conditions of 2 MPa or higher and 700°C or higher to yield a gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and then subjecting the gas to a methanol synthesis process to convert it to methanol.