Biodiesel process
The present invention provides a biodiesel process capable of yielding a mono-alkyl ester biodiesel. In one embodiment, a process for yielding biodiesel comprises providing a feed stream. Preferably, the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, salts, alcohol and glycerol. The process also comprises substantially separating alcohol from the feed stream to yield a first stream. The first stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts. A separation of alcohol from the first stream is performed by volatility. Furthermore, the process of the invention comprises substantially separating salts from the first stream to yield a vapor stream. The vapor stream also comprises mono-alkyl esters and glycerol. Separation of salts of the vapor stream is also performed by volatility. Glycerol and mono-alkyl esters of the vapor stream are also substantially separated so as to yield a biodiesel. Preferably, the biodiesel is a fuel grade biodiesel comprising fatty acid mono-alkyl esters.
1. A process for yielding biodiesel, the process comprising:
providing a feed stream, wherein the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol, alcohol and salts;
substantially separating alcohol of the feed stream to yield a first stream comprising mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts, wherein separation is by volatility;
substantially separating salts of the first stream to yield a vapor stream comprising mono-alkyl esters and glycerol, wherein separation is by volatility; and
substantially separating glycerol from the vapor stream to yield a biodiesel comprising mono-alkyl esters.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the biodiesel is fuel grade biodiesel.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed prior to separation from glycerol.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed during separation from glycerol.
5. The process of claim 1 , the process further comprising prior to said step of providing:
substantially reacting triglycerides with alcohol, wherein reaction is by esterification.
6. The process of claim 5 , wherein triglycerides are comprised in a feed source selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, animal fat, waste type greases and combinations thereof.
7. The process of claim 5 , wherein esterification occurs in the presence of a catalyst.
8. The process of claim 5 or 7 , wherein esterification yields a product stream comprising glycerol, mono-alkyl esters, salts and alcohol.
9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the feed stream is obtained from the product stream.
10. The of claim 7 , the process further comprising:
substantially separating water present in the feed source prior to esterification.
11. The process of claim 10 , wherein separation of water is by volatility.
12. The process of claim 10 , wherein separation of water occurs in an evaporator.
13. The process of claim 10 , wherein separation of water occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.
14. The process of claim 1 , wherein separation of alcohol from the feed stream occurs in an evaporator.
15. The of claim 1 , wherein separation of alcohol from the feed stream occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.
16. The process of claim 1 , wherein separation of salts from the feed stream occurs in an evaporator.
17. The process of claim 1 , wherein separation of salts from the feed stream occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.
18. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is substantially continuous.
19. A process for yielding biodiesel, the process comprising:
providing a feed stream, wherein the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol, alcohol and salts;
substantially separating alcohol of the feed stream to yield a first stream comprising mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts, wherein separation is by volatility;
substantially separating salts of the first stream to yield a vapor stream comprising mono-alkyl esters and glycerol, wherein separation is by volatility;
substantially condensing mono-alkyl esters and glycerol of the vapor stream to yield a liquid stream; and
substantially separating glycerol from the liquid stream to yield a biodiesel comprising mono-alkyl esters.
20. The process of claim 18 , wherein separation of mono-alkyl esters from glycerol is by gravity.
21. The process of claim 20 , wherein separation of mono-alkyl esters from glycerol occurs in a centrifuge.
22. The process of claim 21 , wherein the process is substantially continuous.
23. A process for yielding biodiesel, the process comprising:
providing a feed stream, wherein the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol, alcohol and salts;
substantially separating alcohol of the feed stream to yield a first stream comprising mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts, wherein separation is by volatility;
substantially separating salts of the first stream to yield a vapor stream comprising mono-alkyl esters and glycerol, wherein separation is by volatility; and
substantially separating glycerol from the vapor stream to yield a liquid stream, wherein separation is by substantially condensing mono-alkyl esters.
24. The process of claim 23 , wherein the liquid stream comprises a biodiesel.
25. The process of claim 23 , wherein the liquid stream comprises a biodiesel, the biodiesel comprising mono-alkyl esters.
26. The process of claim 24 or 25 , wherein the biodiesel is fuel grade biodiesel.
27. The process of claim 23 , wherein separation of mono-alky esters from glycerol occurs in a column.
28. A process for yielding biodiesel, the process comprising:
substantially reacting triglycerides with alcohol to yield a feed stream comprising alcohol, glycerol, mono-alkyl esters, water and salts, wherein reaction is by esterification;
substantially separating alcohol and water of the feed stream to yield a first stream comprising mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts, wherein separation is by volatility;
substantially separating salts of the first stream, to yield a vapor stream comprising mono-alkyl esters and glycerol, wherein separation is by volatility; and
substantially separating glycerol from the vapor stream to yield a biodiesel comprising mono-alkyl esters.
29. The process of claim 28 , wherein the biodiesel is fuel grade biodiesel.
30. The process of claim 28 , wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed prior to separation from glycerol.
31. The process of claim 30 , wherein separation of substantially condensed mono-alkyl esters is by gravity.
32. The process of claim 31 , wherein separation of substantially condensed mono-alkyl esters occurs in a centrifuge.
33. The process of claim 28 , wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed during separation from glycerol.
34. The process of claim 33 , wherein mono-alkyl esters from the vapor stream are substantially condensed in a column.
35. The process of claim 28 , wherein separation of alcohol and water from the feed stream occurs in an evaporator.
36. The process of claim 35 , wherein separation of alcohol and water from the feed stream occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.
37. The process of claim 28 , wherein separation of salts from the feed stream occurs in an evaporator.
38. The process of claim 37 , wherein separation of salts from the feed stream occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.
39. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is substantially continuous.
40. The process of claim 28 , wherein said triglycerides are from a feed source.
41. The process of claim 40 , the process further comprising:
substantially separating water from the feed source prior to esterification.
42. The process of claim 41 , wherein separation of water is by volatility.
43. The process of claim 42 , wherein separation of water occurs in an evaporator.
44. The process of claim 42 , wherein separation of water occurs in an agitated-film evaporator.