Method and System for Production of Biofuels Using a Fiber Conduit Reactor
AssigneeChemtor, LP
InventorJohn Lee Massingill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fiber reaction process whereby reactive components contained in immiscible streams are brought into contact to effect chemical reactions and separations. The conduit reactor utilized contains wettable fibers onto which one stream is substantially constrained and a second stream is flowed over to continuously create a new interface there between to efficiently bring about contact of the reactive species and thus promote reactions thereof or extractions thereby. Co-solvents and phase transfer catalysts may be employed to facilitate the process.
Claims41
An apparatus for forming biodiesel comprising:
- a conduit reactor having a plurality of fibers positioned generally longitudinally within an elongated housing in fluid communication with a tube inlet and a tube outlet of said housing;
- said tube inlet being adapted for receiving an alcohol phase for fluid communication to said fibers whereby said alcohol phase flows along said fibers;
- said tube inlet being adapted for receiving a lipid phase for fluid communication to said fibers whereby said lipid phase flows between said fibers;
- the fibers being adapted for reception of a reactive species;
- wherein upon introduction into said reactor, said lipid phase comes in contact with said alcohol phase and reactive species, and interact to form biodiesel;
- and
- a collection vessel positioned proximate said tube outlet for receiving said biodiesel.
A method for forming biofuel, comprising:
- introducing a first stream comprising an alcohol proximate an upstream end of a plurality of fibers positioned longitudinally within the conduit reactor, wherein the end of the fibers opposite the upstream end thereof constitutes a downstream end thereof and is disposed proximate a collection vessel;
- introducing a reactive species within the conduit reactor;
- introducing a second stream containing lipids comprising triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, other esters, phospholipids, fatty acids, and/or other carboxylic acids into the conduit reactor proximate the upstream end of the plurality of fibers in the same direction of flow as the first stream, wherein the second stream is in contact with and is substantially immiscible with the first stream, and wherein the first stream and the second stream are introduced into the conduit reactor such that the alcohol and reactive species interact with the lipids of the second stream to form carboxylic esters useful as biofuels (biogasoline, fuel additives, and biodiesel);
- receiving the biofuel, byproducts of the biofuel formation, and residual components of the first and second streams in the collection vessel;
- and
- withdrawing separately the biofuel from the collection vessel.
A process for treating lipids, such as vegetable oils or animal fats or waste cooking oils or fatty acids or any combination thereof, in a biodiesel formation system to extract an extractable species, such as phospholipids or free fatty acids or both, in an elongated conduit extractor having an upstream and a downstream end and a plurality of fibers positioned longitudinally within said conduit extractor, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing a first stream proximate said upstream end wherein:
- (i) the first stream constitutes a phase substantially constrained to the surface of the fibers;
- and
- (ii) the first stream comprises an organic solvent;
- (b) introducing a reactive species to the conduit extractor in such a manner that at least some of the reactive species is bound to said fibers;
- (c) introducing a second stream comprising lipids into the conduit extractor, wherein the second stream constitutes a substantially continuous phase that is in contact with and is substantially immiscible with the first stream, at a flow rate, temperature, and pressure whereby the reactive species and the organic solvent effects extraction of at least some of said extractable species from the continuous phase into the constrained phase and the organic solvent dissolves at least some of said extractable species in the constrained phase to form an extract;
- (d) receiving the constrained phase and the continuous phase in a collection vessel from said conduit extractor, wherein:
- (i) the constrained phase comprises a layer in a first portion of the collection vessel;
- and
- (ii) the continuous phase comprises a layer in a second portion in the collection vessel:
- and
- (e) withdrawing separately from the collection vessel the continuous phase layer and the constrained phase layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.