Apparatus and process for the refinement of biodiesel fuel

Abstract

The present invention includes a method and apparatus for the production of biodiesel fuel from simple triglyceride sources, such as vegetable oil. In particular, the present invention incorporates a compact processor including a vapor recovery system for removing excess alcohols from the fuel, and thus promoting ASTM compliance. The vapor recovery system includes means for conserving and storing the excess alcohol for further use in the processing of biodiesel fuel. Additionally, a chemical cleaner in the form of an adsorbent material is introduced into the fuel prior to filtering in order to remove particulate matter and other impurities in the biodiesel fuel.

1 . A method for refining a biodiesel fuel comprising: 
 providing a triglyceride base;    reacting the triglyceride base with a solution including an alcohol and an alkaline catalyst, thereby producing a biodiesel fuel portion and an excess alcohol portion;    recovering the excess alcohol portion;    cleansing the biodiesel fuel portion through contact with an adsorbent material; and    filtering the biodiesel fuel prior to use.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the triglyceride base is vegetable oil, the alcohol is methanol, and the alkaline catalyst is potassium hydroxide.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the adsorbent material is magnesium silicate.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of recovering the excess alcohol portion comprises retrieving the excess alcohol through vapor recovery.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of retrieving the excess alcohol through vapor recovery includes providing a vacuum pump for recovering the excess alcohol in a gaseous state.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of reacting the triglyceride base with the solution including the alcohol and the alkaline catalyst includes the step of heating the triglyceride base, the alcohol and the alkaline catalyst to a temperature between 115 and 125 degrees Fahrenheit.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of recovering the excess alcohol portion includes the step of heating the excess alcohol portion to a temperature between 95 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of filtering the biodiesel fuel prior to use includes passing the biodiesel fuel through a filter having a pore size between 5 and 10 microns.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of filtering the triglyceride base prior to reacting the triglyceride base with the solution including the alcohol and the alkaline catalyst, wherein filtering the triglyceride base includes passing the triglyceride base through a filter having a pore size between 5 and 10 microns.  
   
   
       10 . A biodiesel fuel processor comprising: 
 a first vessel containing heating means for heating a fuel comprising a mixture of a triglyceride, an alcohol and an alkaline catalyst;    a second vessel coupled to the first vessel, the second vessel receiving the fuel after an initial heating phase, the second vessel containing a heated fuel portion and an excess alcohol portion;    a vacuum pump coupled to the second vessel, the vacuum pump adapted for recovering the excess alcohol portion from the second vessel; and    a filter coupled to the second vessel, the filter adapted for receiving and filtering the heated fuel portion from the second vessel.    
   
   
       11 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 10  further comprising a third vessel coupled to the first vessel, the third vessel containing an adsorbent material for introduction into the first vessel for cleansing the heated fuel portion.  
   
   
       12 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 11  wherein the adsorbent material is magnesium silicate.  
   
   
       13 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 10  wherein the triglyceride is vegetable oil.  
   
   
       14 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 10  wherein the alcohol is methanol.  
   
   
       15 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 10  wherein the alkaline catalyst is potassium hydroxide.  
   
   
       16 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 10  wherein vacuum pump is adapted for retrieving the excess alcohol portion in a gaseous state.  
   
   
       17 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 10  further comprising a vacuum tank for containing the excess alcohol portion, the vacuum tank coupled to the vacuum pump and receiving the excess alcohol portion there from.  
   
   
       18 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 10  wherein the first vessel has a capacity between 50 and 75 gallons.  
   
   
       19 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 10  wherein the second vessel has a capacity between 50 and 75 gallons.  
   
   
       20 . The biodiesel fuel processor of  claim 10  wherein the vacuum pump has a recovery rate between 0.3 and 0.6 cubic feet per minute.