Synthesis of fine and specialty chemicals involving heterogeneous catalysts is discussed according to the type of reactions (e.g., hydrogenation, oxidation, isomerization, etc.) for various biomass derived feedstocks (carbohydrates, lignans, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and stilbenes, tall oil, and fatty acids).

Recent Progress in Synthesis of Fine and Specialty Chemicals from Wood and Other Biomass by Heterogeneous Catalytic Processes

The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for processing agricultural waste to make alcohol and/or biodiesel. The agricultural wastes are subjected to anaerobic digestion which produces a biogas stream containing methane, which is subsequently reformed to a syngas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The syngas is converted to an alcohol which may be stored, sold, used, or fed directly to a reactor for production of biodiesel. The solids effluent from the anaerobic digester can be further utilized as slow release, organic certified fertilizer. Additionally, the wastewater from the process is acceptable for immediate reuse in agricultural operations.

System and method for extracting energy from agricultural waste

Method for producing fatty acid methyl ester, including compounding saturated and unsaturated higher fatty substances from at least one of vegetable and animal with an alkaline solution dissolved in alcohol to form a mixture. The method also includes emulsifying the mixture to reach a chemical balance state in a reaction section, wherein fats are transesterified into fatty acid methyl ester, wherein border surfaces of the mixture are enlarged by dynamic turbulence in the reaction section and the transesterification is performed under pressure, and wherein the pressure is reduced during transesterification. The method further includes after reaching a chemical balance state, separating residues from the fatty acid methyl ester in a phase separation section. Apparatus for producing fatty acid methyl ester.

Method for producing fatty acid methyl ester and equipment for realising the same

The invention relates to a method for the continuous production of biodiesel from biogenous initial mixtures containing fat or oil and having a high proportion of free fatty acids. The invention also relates to a device for producing biodiesel.

Method and device for producing biodiesel

A feedstock originating from renewable sources is converted to branched and saturated hydrocarbons without heteroatoms in the base oils distillation range by converting the fatty acids to olefins, which are subsequently oligomerised.

Process for the manufacture of base oil

Oils or fats, in particular of vegetable, but also of animal origin, are reacted with methanol or ethanol and an alkaline catalyst in the liquid phase. Glycerine and methyl esters of fatty acids or ethyl esters of fatty acids are formed. The reaction is carried out using at least two reaction steps, each reaction step having a mixing reactor and a separator for the separation of a light, ester-rich phase and a heavy, glycerine-rich phase. The oil or the fat, the alcohol and the catalyst are added to the mixing reactor in the first reaction step and these substances are intensively mixed. The alcohol and the catalyst as well as the light, ester-rich phase obtained in the preceding reaction step are added for intensive mixing to the mixing reactor in the second and each further reaction step. A heavy phase is separated in the separator in the second to last reaction step and at least partly fed back to the mixing reactor in the first reaction step. Methyl esters of fatty acids or ethyl esters of fatty acids are obtained from the light, ester-rich phase separated in the last reaction step by at least one further separation treatment. The process is preferably carried out using two reaction steps.

Process for the production of methyle or ethyle esters from fatty acids and glycerine by transesterification of oils or greases

A liquid starting mixture contains at least one fatty acid having 6 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule and per mole of fatty acid comprises 1.0 to 1.5 moles of fatty alcohol having 6 to 30 carbon atoms. An intermediate product which contains at least 50% by weight is prepared from the liquid starting product, which is passed at temperatures from about 120 to 320° C. through a stirring zone and is sprayed and water vapor is removed. The intermediate product is hydrogenated to produce a raw product, which contains at least 75% by weight fatty alcohol. A partial stream which contains fatty alcohol is removed from the raw product and is added to the liquid starting mixture. The intermediate product which contains at least 50% by weight wax ester can be prepared without use of a solids containing catalyst.

Process for preparing wax esters and hydrogenation of wax esters to fatty alcohols

The wax ester is produced from a liquid mixture containing at least one fatty acid and at least one fatty alcohol, the fatty acid and the fatty alcohol containing 6 to 30 C atoms per molecule. The mixture is agitated at temperatures in the range from approximately 105 to 300 DEG C and sprayed into a spray zone. In the spray zone, a water vapour-containing atmosphere is formed which is at least partially removed. Ahead of the spray zone, the mixture of fatty acid and fatty alcohol can be agitated in at least one stirring vessel. The process is preferably carried out without addition of catalyst.

Process for the production of wax esters.

Prepn. of fatty alcohols (A) from a liq. starting mixt. (M) contg. at least one 6-30C fatty acid (B) and 1 - 1.5 mols. 6-30C (A) per mol. (B), comprises the following steps : (1) (M) is stirred in one or more zones at ca. 120 - 320 degrees C ; (2) the wax ester-contg. mixt. is sprayed into a zone with a steam atmos. ; (3) at least some of the steam is removed to give an intermediate prod. comprising min. 50 wt.% wax ester ; (4) the intermediate prod. is hydrogenated to form a crude prod. comprising at least 75 wt.% (A) ; (5) the partial flow contg. (A) is sepd. from the crude prod.; and (6) (M) is added to this flow.

Process for the production of wax ester and hydrogenation of the wax ester to fatty alcohol

Fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives as well as hydrogen, fresh catalyst and a dispersion which contains used catalyst are supplied to the hydrogenating means, which are operated at temperatures in the range from 100° to 400° C. and under pressures in the range from 20 to 400 bars to produce a product stream, which contains fatty alcohols and used catalyst. A part of the product stream is circulated. A first partial stream Is withdrawn at a controllable rate from the circulating stream and is passed through a separator. A product which is rich in fatty alcohol and a dispersion which contains used catalyst are separately delivered by the separator. The dispersion is recycled to the hydrogenating means. A second partial stream is withdrawn at a controllable rate from the circulating product stream. Used catalyst is separated from the second partial stream and is removed from the process. The rate at which used catalyst is fed to the hydrogenating means can be increased in that the rate of the second partial stream is decreased.

Buchold Henning Dr

Papers

Process for the production of methyle or ethyle esters from fatty acids and glycerine by transesterification of oils or greases

Process for preparing wax esters and hydrogenation of wax esters to fatty alcohols

Process for the production of wax esters.

Process for the production of wax ester and hydrogenation of the wax ester to fatty alcohol

Process of controlling the rate at which used catalyst is recycled to hydrogenating means for preparing fatty alcohols from fatty acid derivatives