Production of biodiesel
AssigneeAriel Scientific Innovations Ltd.
InventorsMarina Nisnevitch, Faina Nakonechny, Mirit Kolet, Daniel Zarbib, Yael Albo
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Abstract
A process of generating an alkyl ester of a fatty acid (e.g., a biodiesel) from a free fatty acid-containing substance (e.g., a feedstock), is provided. The process is effected by contacting a mixture of the free fatty acid-containing substance and a respective alcohol with Lewis Acid; and, while contacting, exposing the mixture and the Lewis acid to ultrasound energy. An alkyl ester of a fatty acid, or a mixture of two or more alkyl esters of fatty acids, (e.g., a biodiesel), obtainable by the process, are also provided.
Claims18
A process of generating an alkyl ester of a fatty acid from a free fatty acid-containing substance, the process comprising:
- introducing a mixture comprising the free fatty acid-containing substance, an organic aprotic solvent and a respective alcohol into a reactor that is in acoustic communication with an ultrasound transducer;
- contacting said mixture with a Lewis acid;
- and
- applying on said reactor ultrasound energy at a frequency of at least 20 kHz, to thereby generate the alkyl ester of the fatty acid by esterification of the free fatty acid,
- wherein said contacting and said applying is at an ambient temperature,
- wherein the contacting and the applying of the ultrasound energy are effected substantially at the same time,
- wherein said free fatty acid-containing substance comprises a free fatty acid in an amount of at least 50% by weight,
- wherein said alcohol and/or said free fatty acid-containing substance is immiscible with said organic aprotic solvent,
- and wherein said organic aprotic solvent is an alkane, or a mixture of alkanes, or alkenes, alkynes or a mixture of one or more of an alkane, alkene and alkyne, and has a boiling temperature that is higher than 40° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.