University of Connecticut

Nicholas Leadbeater

Richard Steven Parnas

Clifford Weed

Matthew Boucher

In one embodiment, a method for the production of alkyl esters comprises: introducing liquid biomass and an alcohol to a first transesterification reactor at a point in a lower 25% of the reactor; reacting the liquid biomass and the alcohol to form a liquid glycerol and a liquid alkyl ester, wherein greater than or equal to about 75 mass % of the liquid glycerol moves towards a bottom of the first transesterification reactor; removing a liquid alkyl ester stream from the first transesterification reactor; and removing the liquid glycerol from the first transesterification reactor. The liquid biomass and the alcohol form a combined liquid stream that flows through the first transesterification reactor in a laminar flow.

Systems for alkyl ester production

In one embodiment, an alkyl ester production system can comprise: a first transesterification reactor comprising a liquid biomass inlet located between a liquid glycerol outlet and a liquid alkyl ester outlet, a water wash vessel comprising an alkyl ester inlet, a water inlet located near a top of the water wash vessel, and a washed alkyl ester outlet located near the top of the water wash vessel, wherein the alkyl ester inlet is located near a bottom of the water wash vessel, and a drier comprising a washed alkyl ester inlet located near a top of the drier, and a gas inlet and a dried alkyl ester outlet located near the bottom of the drier. The first transesterification reactor can be configured for laminar flow and for liquid reactants and products. The alkyl ester inlet can be in fluid communication with the washed alkyl ester outlet.

In one embodiment, the method comprises: combining liquid biomass with an alcohol to form a combined liquid stream, introducing the combined liquid stream to a first transesterification reactor between a liquid glycerol outlet and a liquid alkyl ester outlet, reacting the liquid biomass and the alcohol to form liquid glycerol and liquid alkyl ester, and removing a liquid alkyl ester stream from an upper portion of the first transesterification reactor. The combined liquid stream flows upward through the reactor at a rate that is less than a settling velocity of the liquid glycerol.

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Southington, CT, United States of America

Nicholas Leadbeater