System for removal of methanol from crude biodiesel fuel

Abstract

A method of removing methanol and other substances from crude biodiesel, includes mixing a silicone based adsorbent with the crude biodiesel. The silicone based absorbent may be a magnesium silicate adsorbent with a formula of 2 MgO:65:02 nH 2 O. A plant for making biodiesel fuel has a first section for making crude biodiesel fuel methanol therein, and a second section for removing the methanol from the crude biodiesel, the second section has a tank for mixing the crude biodiesel and the silicone based adsorbent for the methanol, and a filter for filtering the adsorbent mixed with methanol from the crude biodiesel thereby producing biodiesel.

1 . A method of removing methanol and other substances from crude boidiesel, the method including a step of mixing the crude biodiesel with a silicone based adsorbent.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the silicone based absorbent comprises a magnesium silicate adsorbent.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the magnesium silicate adsorbent has the formula 2 MgO:65:02 nH 2 O.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of filtering the crude biodiesel and adsorbent to separate the biodiesel from the adsorbent mixed with methanol and other substances.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of adsorbent mixed with the crude biodiesel is no more than one weight percent.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of adsorbent mixed with the crude biodiesel is 0.4 to 0.8 weight percent.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of adding water to the crude biodiesel in addition to the adsorbent.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the amount of water is about one weight percent.  
     
     
         9 . A method of forming crude biodiesel by a process including the steps of adding methanol to a reaction vessel where esterification takes place, and heating the reaction vessel to at least about 140° F., sealing the top of the vessel, placing a condensing coil outside of the vessel and in communication with an upper portion of the vessel containing methanol vapor, for condensing methanol which escapes from the vessel in the condensing coil.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a negative pressure is applied to the coil for creating a negative pressure at the top of the vessel, and air is allowed into the top of the vessel.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the amount of adsorbent is less than 0.4 weight percent.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crude biodiesel is formed by a continuous flow process.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crude biodiesel is formed by a batch process.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein there is a step of heating the crude biodiesel before mixing in the adsorbent to demethalate the crude biodiesel.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of removing methanol, glycerin and one of potassium and sodium hydroxide are removed.  
     
     
         16 . A plant for making biodiesel fuel, the plant comprising: 
 a first section for making crude biodiesel fuel having methanol therein, and a second section for removing the methanol from the crude biodiesel,    the second section comprising a tank for mixing the crude biodiesel and a silicone based adsorbent for the methanol, and a filter for filtering the adsorbent mixed with methanol from the crude biodiesel thereby producing purer biodiesel.    
     
     
         17 . The plant of  claim 16 , wherein there is a means for heating the crude biodiesel to dementhalate it prior to the tank.  
     
     
         18 . The plant of  claim 17 , wherein the means for dementhalating comprises, a chamber disposed at an angle, the chamber comprising means for heating the crude biodiesel fuel proximate a low end of the chamber to create methanol vapor, and having means for condensing methanol vapor, and means for removing the biodiesel, both proximate a high end of the chamber.  
     
     
         19 . The plant of  claim 18 , further comprising means for removing glycerin proximate a low end of the chamber.  
     
     
         20 . The plant of  claim 18 , further comprising means for recirculating biodiesel from above a low end of the chamber back to the low end of the chamber to the means for heating.