Conversion of saponifiable lipids into fatty esters
AssigneeAurora Algae, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey G. Hippler, Andy Thompson, Lea Dulatas, Louis A. Kapicak
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Abstract
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to processes and methods for converting lipids comprising fatty acids into fatty esters. According to various embodiments of the invention, the saponifiable lipids are reacted with a base to form alkali soaps. The alkali soaps are then reacted with an acid to form fatty esters. Both the base reaction and the acid reaction may occur in the presence of one or more alcohols. Following the acid reaction, a solvent may be added to effect a separation of the fatty esters, which may then be recovered.
Claims19
A method of converting saponifiable lipids into fatty esters, comprising:
- reacting the lipids with a base in presence of a first alcohol to form alkali soaps;
- and
- reacting the alkali soaps with an acid in the presence of a second alcohol to form fatty esters;
- and wherein at least a portion of the lipids is derived from algal oils.
A method for converting saponifiable lipids into fatty esters, comprising:
- adding a predetermined amount of saponifiable lipids to a reaction vessel;
- in presence of a first alcohol, adding an amount of base sufficient to convert the lipids to alkali soaps;
- adding a catalytic excess of the base equal to about 0.25 percent to about 5 percent of a total weight of the lipids, the stoichiometric amount of the base, and the first alcohol;
- in presence of a second alcohol, adding a stoichiometric amount of an acid to neutralize excess base and to convert the alkali soaps to fatty acids;
- and
- adding a catalytic excess of the acid equal to about 0.5 percent to about 5 percent of a total weight of the lipids, the stoichiometric amount of the base, the catalytic excess of the base, and the first and second alcohols;
- and wherein at least a portion of the lipids is derived from algal oils.
A method for converting saponifiable lipids into fatty esters, comprising:
- determining a composition of the lipids;
- adding a predetermined weight of lipids to a reaction vessel;
- adding a base and a predetermined amount of an alcohol to the reaction vessel to form alkali soaps, the predetermined amount of the alcohol based on the composition of the lipids;
- and
- adding an acid to the reaction vessel to convert the alkali soaps to fatty esters;
- and wherein at least a portion of the lipids is derived from algal oils.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.