Method and equipment for producing fatty acid methyl ester to produce diesel fuel where the fatty acids are transesterified to fatty acid methyl ester

摘要

A method and an equipment for producing fatty acid methyl ester, more particularly diesel fuel for vehicles, wherein the method allows for a rational production in economical equipment, preferably in large-scale industrial equipment. A container (1) contains saturated and unsaturated higher fatty substances from vegetable and/or animal origin. A tank (2) is provided for a potent alkaline solution, particularly a potassium solution, while another tank (3) is provided for the alcohol, particularly for methanol. The alkaline solution is dissolved in the alcohol and this operation is carried out in a mixing vessel (4). The container (1) containing the fatty substances and the mixing vessel (4) is connected at the transesterification section (8). The reaction or transesterification section (8) comprises a static mixer (12) that creates a whirlpool in the liquid due to the action of high or powerful turbulence. The phase separation surfaces are thus substantially increased so that chemical balance can be achieved more rapidly. The liquid which is at the chemical balance state is then supplied to a distillation unit (15). The target substances, such as the fatty acid methyl ester, are correspondingly removed from the stages (18) of the distillation unit (15). This enables for the first time the production of diesel fuel such as eco-diesel or bio-diesel in ecologically optimal conditions of production while maintaining all the advantages thereof.