Methods for producing biodiesel

US8039652B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Marc A. Portnoff · Pittsburgh, US
• David A. Purta · Pittsburgh, US
• Margaret A. Nasta · McKeesport, US
• Jingfeng Zhang · Gibsonia, US
• Faiz Pourarian · Pittsburgh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 14, 2010
• Grant date: Oct 18, 2011
• Expiry date: Apr 14, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E50/10
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Transesterification, esterification, and esterification-transesterification (both one-step and two-step) for producing biofuels. The process may be enhanced by one or more of the following: 1) applying microwave or RF energy; 2) passing reactants over a heterogeneous catalyst at sufficiently high velocity to achieve high shear conditions; 3) emulsifying reactants with a homogeneous catalyst; or 4) maintaining the reaction at a pressure at or above autogeneous pressure. Enhanced processes using one or more of these steps can result in higher process rates, higher conversion levels, or both.