Bio formula to substitute diesel fuel

Abstract

Methods for preparing a diesel substitute are disclosed. The methods may include continuous processes from distillation of waste vegetable oil, preparation of methanol, preparation of Na-methoxide mixtures, reactions between distilled waste vegetable oil and Na-methoxide mixtures, and separations of reaction products. A biodiesel substitute having a brownish-yellow color and a maximum acid number of 6 is also disclosed.

1 . A method of producing an alternative diesel substitute that includes a methyl ester/biodiesel, the method comprising: 
 (a) distilling waste vegetable oil to obtain waste vegetable oil distillate;    (b) adding methanol and sulphuric acid to the distillate to produce first reaction products;    (c) subjecting the first reaction products to evaporation;    (d) distilling a first portion of products obtained in step (c) to produce a bottom fraction including methyl ester, and a top/vapor fraction including methanol;    (e) mixing methanol produced in step (d) with NaOH/KOH to produce a Na-methoxide mixture;    (f) homogenizing a second portion of products obtained in step (c) and mixing the homogenized products with Na-methoxide produced in step (e) to produce second reaction products;    (g) distilling the second reaction products to produce a top/vapor fraction including methanol and a bottom fraction including methyl ester/biodiesel and glycerol;    (h) distilling the methyl ester/biodiesel and glycerol obtained in step (g) to produce a top fraction including glycerol and a bottom fraction including methyl ester/biodiesel;    (i) neutralizing the methyl ester/biodiesel, and subjecting the neutralized methyl ester/biodiesel to evaporation to produce a bottom fraction including the alternative diesel substitute.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distillation of step (a) is accomplished through membrane filtration.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) includes maintaining the distillate, methanol, and sulphuric acid at 60-70° C. and atmospheric pressure for 60-120 minutes.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporation in step (c) includes maintaining a temperature of 60-70° C. at 20-60 mmHg for 60-90 minutes.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distilling of step (d) is performed with a first distillation column operated at 60-70° C. at 20-60 mmHg.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom fraction obtained in step (d) also includes water, glycerol, and soap; the bottom fraction is subjected to refluxing and the methyl ester is separated from the water, glycerol, and soap.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising condensing the methanol in the top/vapor fraction produced in step (d) in a condenser at 20°.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising concentrating the methanol to a concentration of 99%.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distilling step (g) is performed with a second distillation column operated at 60-70° C. at 20-60 mmHg.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising concentrating the methanol in the top/vapor fraction produced in step (g) in a condenser at 20°; and optionally combining the methanol of step (g) with the methanol obtained in step (d) to produce combined methanol, wherein the combined methanol is processed in the same steps as the methanol of step (d).  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom fraction including methyl ester/biodiesel and glycerol in step (g) is reboiled prior to step (h).  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distilling of step (h) is performed with a third distillation column operated at 60-70° C. at 20-60 mmHg.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glycerol in the top fraction of step (h) is transferred to a glycerol reserve tank.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reboiling the bottom fraction including methyl ester/biodiesel of step (h) prior to step (i).  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neutralizing step in (i) further comprises adjusting the pH to 5.5-6.5.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of adjusting the pH is accomplished by adding sulphuric acid.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sulphuric acid is 12 M and is added at a volume corresponding to 1-1.5% of the methyl ester/biodiesel volume.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neutralizing step in (i) further comprises adding water.  
   
   
       19 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the evaporating step in (i) includes an evaporator operating at 60-70° C. at 20-60 mmHg for 60 minutes.  
   
   
       20 . An alternative diesel substitute produced by the method of  claim 1.