Process for non-catalytically producing biodiesel fuel without yielding by-product

Abstract

This invention provides a process for producing biodiesel fuel from vegetable or animal oils and fats or wastes thereof and methanol that does not use a catalyst and does not generate glycerin as a by-product. In this process, vegetable or animal oils and fats or wastes thereof are mixed with methanol, and a methanolysis reaction is carried out at a reaction temperature of between 370° C. and 500° C., a reaction pressure of between 20 MPa and 60 MPa, and a reaction period of between 4 minutes and 12 minutes without the use of a catalyst. This invention also provides biodiesel fuel that is mainly composed of fatty acid methyl esters, monoacylglycerol, and diacylglycerol.

1 . A process for producing biodiesel fuel, wherein vegetable or animal oils and fats or wastes thereof are mixed with methanol, and a methanolysis reaction is carried out without the use of a catalyst under reaction conditions where glycerin is not generated.  
   
   
       2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the reaction conditions where glycerin is not generated constitute a reaction temperature of between 370° C. and 500° C., a reaction pressure of between 20 MPa and 60 MPa, and a reaction period of between 4 minutes and 12 minutes.  
   
   
       3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein degradation of a carbon chain in a fatty acid group is carried out in parallel with the methanolysis reaction.  
   
   
       4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the vegetable or animal oils and fats or wastes thereof are mixed with methanol at a volume ratio of 1:2 to 2:1.  
   
   
       5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the methanolysis reaction is carried out in a Hastelloy reaction tube in which adequate mixing conditions can be maintained.  
   
   
       6 . Biodiesel fuel that is mainly composed of fatty acid methyl esters, monoacylglycerol, and diacylglycerol.