Electrochemical Process for Conversion of Biodiesel to Aviation Fuels
AssigneeNortheastern University
InventorsSanjeev MUKERJEE, Qinggang HE
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Abstract
Methods for the conversion of a biofuel such as biodiesel into an alkane composition such as an aviation fuel, kerosine, or liquified petroleum gas product involve a series of electrochemical reactions. The reactions include oxidation of methanol to carbon dioxide, reduction of fatty acid esters, and cleavage of fatty acid chains at C═C double bonds. The methods are carried out by systems of two or more electrochemical reactors.
Claims12
A method for the chemical conversion of a biodiesel to an alkane composition, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a crude biodiesel composition, the biodiesel composition comprising fatty acid esters and methanol;
- reducing the amount of methanol in the biodiesel composition by electrochemical oxidation of methanol to carbon dioxide in a first electrochemical reactor;
- fragmenting fatty acid chains of the biodiesel composition in a second electrochemical reactor that cleaves the fatty acid chains at carbon-carbon double bonds to yield short chain fatty acids and aldehydes;
- and
- hydrogenating the short chain fatty acids and aldehydes in a third electrochemical reactor to yield a composition comprising alkanes.
A method for the chemical conversion of a biodiesel to an alkane composition, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a crude biodiesel composition, the biodiesel composition comprising fatty acid esters and methanol;
- fragmenting fatty acid chains in the biodiesel composition in a first electrochemical reactor that cleaves the fatty acid chains at carbon-carbon double bonds to yield short chain fatty acids and aldehydes;
- oxidizing the short chain aldehydes to short chain fatty acids;
- and
- performing a Kolbe reaction in a second electrochemical reactor, whereby the short chain fatty acids are decarboxylated to form alkanes.
A method for the chemical conversion of a biodiesel to an alkane composition, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a crude biodiesel composition, the biodiesel composition comprising fatty acid esters and methanol;
- fragmenting fatty acid chains in the biodiesel composition in a first electrochemical reactor that cleaves the fatty acid chains at carbon-carbon double bonds to yield short chain fatty acids and aldehydes;
- and
- hydrogenating the short chain fatty acids and aldehydes in a second electrochemical reactor to form alkanes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.