Integrated process for the production of biofuels from different types of starting materials and related products

Abstract

Process for the production of biocombustible or biofuel mixtures suitable for different conditions of use, starting from refined or raw vegetable oils, including those extracted from seaweed, and/or from used food oils and animal fats, each of which is pre-treated with specific treatments in order to yield a dried refined oil. The latter then undergoes transesterification with an excess of lower alcohols or bioalcohols, and a subsequent separation into a raw glycerine-based phase and a phase containing mixtures of fatty acid alkyl esters and the excess alcohols or bioalcohols. The excess amount of lower alcohols/bioalcohols can be partially or completely recovered from the obtained mixture, or the mixture itself may be integrated with additional quantities of the same or different lower alcohols/bioalcohols, thereby yielding combustible products and ecological fuels suitable for various environmental conditions and for the types of apparatus and engines they must be employed in. The product can either be used by itself or as the main or secondary ingredient of a mixture with conventional fuel.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A biocombustible or biofuel mixture consisting of:
 I. fatty acid alkyl esters, wherein the fatty acid alkyl esters are obtained by a transesterification process using lipid-based vegetable or animal materials subjected to preliminary treatments including drying, and lower alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures; and   II. a calibrated quantity of lower alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures.   
     
     
         15 . The mixture according to  claim 14 , wherein the calibrated quantity of the lower alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures consists of excess alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures from the transesterification process. 
     
     
         16 . The mixture according to  claim 14 , wherein the calibrated quantity of the lower alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures is greater than an excess of alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures from the transesterification process. 
     
     
         17 . The mixture according to  claim 16 , wherein the calibrated quantity of the lower alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures is at least partly obtained by the addition of lower alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures to the mixture after the transesterification process. 
     
     
         18 . The mixture according to  claim 14 , wherein the calibrated quantity of the lower alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures is smaller than an excess of alcohols or bioalcohols or their mixtures from the transesterification process. 
     
     
         19 . The mixture according to  claim 14 , wherein the calibrated quantity of lower alcohols or bioalcohols comprises methanol, ethanol, biomethanol, and/or bioethanol. 
     
     
         20 . The mixture according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixture comprises 45% methanol. 
     
     
         21 . The mixture according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixture comprises 45% biomethanol. 
     
     
         22 . The mixture according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixture comprises 45% ethanol. 
     
     
         23 . The mixture according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixture comprises 45% bioethanol. 
     
     
         24 . An aviation fuel comprising a fossil fuel and the mixture of  claim 14 .