Renewable Energy Group, Inc.

Bradley Neil Albin

David A Slade

Cody James Ellens

Derek J Winkel

Jared A Downey

Jared Nathaniel Brown

Anthony J S Pollard

Methods and devices for economically producing a purified biodiesel product from feedstocks. Some embodiments of the methods comprise using at least one of a crude feedstock pretreatment process and a free fatty acid refining process prior to transesterification and the formation of crude biodiesel and glycerin. The crude biodiesel is then subjected to at least one biodiesel refining process which, in conjunction with feedstock pretreatment and free fatty acid refining produces a purified biodiesel product that meets multiple commercial specifications. A wide variety of feedstocks may be used to make biodiesel that otherwise would not meet the same commercial specifications, including corn oil, used cooking oil, poultry fats, fatty acid distillates, pennycress oil, and algal oils. The combination of feedstock refining and biodiesel refining processes is necessary to reduce problems associated with feedstocks having waxes, high free fatty acid levels, unacceptable color, high unsaponifiables levels, and high sulfur levels.

Methods and devices for producing biodiesel and products obtained therefrom

Methods, processes, apparatus, equipment and systems are disclosed for converting carboxylic acids into esters by esterification with alcohol and a dual catalyst. The method combines a homogenous and heterogeneous catalyst in one or more reactors to increase the conversion of carboxylic acids compared to using a homogenous and/or heterogeneous catalyst independently. The invention converts free fatty acids into esters by esterification with alcohol and a dual catalyst such that the reaction mixture contains sufficiently low free fatty acids and the amount of free fatty acids in the product stream leaving the process remains stable over time.

Dual catalyst esterification

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Ames, IA, United States of America

Bradley Neil Albin