Thermal conversion of volatile fatty acid salts to ketones
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsMark T. Holtzapple, Richard R. Davison
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Abstract
This invention provides a method for thermally converting volatile fatty acid (VFA) salts to ketones by mixing dry calcium salts of VFAs with hot heat transfer agent in an evacuated container, thereby causing thermal decomposition of the calcium salts of VFAs to form ketone-containing vapor and calcium carbonate; and separating the ketone-containing vapor from the calcium carbonate and heat transfer agent by condensing a mixture of ketones from the ketone-containing vapor.
Claims17
A method for thermally converting volatile fatty acid (VFA) salts to ketones, comprising
- mixing dry metal salts of VFAs with preheated heat transfer agent in an evacuated container, whereby the temperature of the metal salts of VFAs is raised sufficiently to cause thermal decomposition of the metal salts of VFAs to form ketone-containing vapor and metal salt of carbonate;
- and
- separating the ketone-containing vapor from the metal carbonate salt and heat transfer agent and recovering ketones by condensing the ketone-containing vapor.
A method for producing low-molecular-weight ketones from volatile fatty acids, comprising:
- precipitating calcium salts of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) selected from the group consisting of acetate, propionate and butyrate;
- drying precipitated calcium salts of VFAs;
- mixing the dry calcium salts of VFAs with preheated heat transfer agent selected from steel balls, glass balls, ceramic balls and hollow beads filled with a substance that melts at the temperature of thermal decomposition of VFAs in a container, thereby causing thermal decomposition of the calcium salts of VFAs to form ketone-containing vapor and calcium carbonate;
- maintaining a vacuum in the container by condensing ketones from the ketone-containing vapor and removing non-condensable vapor from the container;
- removing a mixture of calcium carbonate and heat transfer agent from the container;
- and
- separating the heat transfer agent from the calcium carbonate, reheating and recycling the heat transfer agent.
A mixture of ketones produced from volatile fatty acids by:
- drying precipitated calcium salts of VFAs;
- mixing dry calcium salts of VFAs with preheated heat transfer agent in an evacuated container, causing thermal decomposition of the calcium salts of VFAs to form ketone-containing vapor and calcium carbonate;
- and
- separating the ketone-containing vapor from the calcium carbonate and heat transfer agent by condensing a mixture of ketones from the ketone-containing vapor.
A method for thermally converting volatile fatty acid (VFA) salts to mixed aldehydes and ketones, comprising
- mixing dry metal salts of VFAs, at least one dry metal formate salt, and preheated heat transfer agent in an evacuated container, whereby the temperature of the metal salts is raised sufficiently to cause thermal decomposition of the metal salts to form vapor and metal salt of carbonate, said vapor containing mixed aldehydes and ketones;
- and
- separating the vapor from the metal carbonate salt and heat transfer agent and condensing mixed aldehydes and ketones from the vapor.
A method for thermally converting lactic acid salt to an ether, comprising
- mixing dry metal salts of lactic acid and preheated heat transfer agent in an evacuated container, whereby heat transferred from the heat transfer agent raises the temperature of the metal lactic acid salt sufficiently to cause thermal decomposition of the metal lactic acid salt to form ether-containing vapor and metal salt of carbonate;
- and
- separating the ether-containing vapor from the metal carbonate salt and heat transfer agent and condensing the ether from the vapor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.