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US 8,523,960 B2Granted
Stable alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters from transesterification-alkoxylation of vegetable oils
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorMarc-André Poirier
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Abstract
Alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters are produced from a bio-component feed, preferably containing triglycerides. The triglycerides can be reacted with an alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, which can provide improved low temperature properties and/or improved oxidative stability in petrochemical products, relative to non-alkoxylated versions of the fatty acid alkyl esters.
Claims19
A method for producing a diesel boiling range product, comprising:
- exposing, in a batch reactor, a bio-component feed containing at least about 50% by weight of glycerides to an alcohol having about 7 carbons or less in the presence of a catalyst having an acid number of about 0.1 mg/g KOH to about 30 mg/g KOH and a specific surface area of about 40 m2/g to about 300 m2/g, under effective conditions to produce alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters;
- and
- separating the alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters from the alcohol to form a fatty acid alkyl ester product that boils in the diesel range,
- wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester reaction product has a cloud point that is at least 2° C. lower than the cloud point of a reaction product containing the corresponding unsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters.
1 more element
A method for producing a diesel boiling range product, comprising:
- exposing, in a batch reactor, a bio-component feed containing at least about 50% by weight of triglycerides to an alcohol having 4 carbons or less in the presence of a solid catalyst having an acid number of about 5 mg/g KOH to about 30 mg/g KOH and a specific surface area of about 40 m2/g to about 300 m2/g, under effective conditions, the effective conditions including a pressure of at least about 350 kPag and a temperature of at least about 200° C. to produce an alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl ester;
- separating the solid catalyst from the alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl ester;
- and
- separating the alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl ester from the alcohol to form a fatty acid alkyl ester reaction product that boils in the diesel range,
- wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester reaction product has a cloud point that is at least 5° C. lower than the cloud point of a reaction product containing the corresponding unsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.