Process for the production of fatty acid esters

US9228156B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Davy Process Technology Limited · GB

Inventors

• Robert Wild · Thornaby-on-Tees, GB
• Rickard Andersson · Lidköping, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 23, 2013
• Grant date: Jan 5, 2016
• Expiry date: May 23, 2033

Classification

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

Abstract

In a process for producing fatty acid esters, a fatty acid or fatty acid mixture is subjected to esterification with a lower alkanol in an esterification reactor maintained under esterification conditions to form a stream comprising the corresponding lower alkyl ester(s). An overhead stream comprising unreacted lower alkanol, water and a heavy organic content of one or more of lower alkyl ester and/or acids is recovered from the reactor. The overhead stream is subjected to distillation in a first distillation column to separate a portion of the lower alkanol from a stream comprising the water, the remaining lower alkanol and the heavy organic content. This stream is recovered and subjected to distillation in a second distillation column to provide an overhead stream comprising lower alkanol and at least a major portion of the heavy organic content and a water stream having a reduced heavy organic and alkanol content.