Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series – Organic compounds – Fatty compounds having an acid moiety which contains the...
Patent
1992-03-10
1995-03-21
Dees, Jose G.
Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series
Organic compounds
Fatty compounds having an acid moiety which contains the...
554169, 554227, C11C 310
Patent
active
053997310
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for the production of fatty acid esters and/or fatty acid ester mixtures of lower monovalent alcohols having 1 to 5 carbon atoms by transesterification of fatty acid glycerides with the lower alcohols in the presence of basic catalysts.
The fatty acid esters produced according to the invention are suitable depending on the starting materials used, for instance as pharmaceutical, dietetic or cosmetic raw materials, as diesel fuels, as fuel oils or as intermediate products for the production of further fatty acid derivatives such as fatty alcohols, tensides and the like as well as for the production of lubricants.
Due to their suitability as diesel fuels, fatty acid esters of this type have recently gained particular importance for reasons of environment protection, the replacement of fossil fuels by regenerable energy sources and the problems connected with agriculture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The production of such fatty acid esters has long been known. It is effected on an industrial scale mainly by the base-catalyzed transesterification of fatty acid glycerides with lower alcohols. The procedure basically being such that the fatty acid glycerides are brought into contact with the lower alcohol in the presence of a basic catalyst at reaction conditions differing as a function of the starting material. The reaction mixture, once the transesterification is completed, separating into a heavy phase of more or less pure glycerol and a light phase consisting of the fatty acid esters of the lower alcohols.
The reaction conditions depend on the respective type of fatty acid glycerides employed. It is known, for instance, that oils and fats of natural origin, such as they are normally used, depending on their origin and pretreatment, have a content in fatty acids in the free state of up to 20 percent and more, can be transesterified in the presence of basic catalysts at temperatures around 240.degree. C. and a pressure of about 100 bar at a seven to eight-fold molar excess of alcohol. (Ullmann, Enzyklopadie d. techn. Chemie, 4th edition, vol. 11, page 432 (1976)).
It is further known that such transesterification can be carried out at temperatures around the boiling point of the alcohol used and at normal or only slightly increased pressure at slight excess of the lower alcohols if the oils and fats employed are first deacidified by methods such as distillation, alkali extraction, acid-catalyzed preesterification and the like to a maximum content in free fatty acids of 0.5 percent and are subsequently dried.
It is further known that oils and fats are transesterified at normal pressure and environmental temperature with stoichiometric amounts of the lower alcohols in the presence of 1.0 to 1.7 percent by weight of potassium hydroxide based on the weight of the fat or oil employed. A substantial share of the known processes is dedicated to the purification of the fatty acid esters, in particular the elimination of the catalyst used.
The substantial drawbacks of the known processes reside in the fact that in the case of the application of high temperatures and pressures as well as excesses of alcohol, expensive reactors are necessary and high energy costs are incurred. Otherwise, the oils and fats used will have to be deacidified and dried, which also calls for expensive equipment. Additionally, the degrees of transesterification are too low and/or the contents in residual glycerol are too high, which is particularly the case in processes employing low alcohol excesses or stoichiometric amounts of alcohol, which for most intended uses calls for a subsequent distillation of the fatty acid esters. The removal of the catalyst, if this is effected by washing with water, causes considerable difficulties in the subsequent phase separation due to the formation of emulsions, or, if the catalyst is removed by washing with acids, a considerable amount of fatty acids in the free state is transferred to the ester phase. Further, in case an ion exchanger is
REFERENCES:
patent: 2360844 (1944-10-01), Bradshaw et al.
patent: 4303590 (1981-12-01), Tanaka et al.
Verlag Chemie, "Ullmanns Encyklopaedie der technischen Chemie" 4th Edition, vol. 11, p. 432, 1976.
Carr D. D.
Dees Jos,e G.
Vogel & Noot Industrieanlagenbau Gesellschaft m.b.H.
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