ARS | Publication request: THE PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FUEL ESTERS DIRECTLY FROM LIPID-CONTAINING MATERIALS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 15, 2005
Publication Date: October 1, 2004
Citation: Haas, M.J., Foglia, T.A., Mcaloon, A.J., Marmer, W.N. 2004. The production of biodiesel fuel esters directly from lipid-containing materials [abstract]. AOCS Industrial Applications of Renewable Resources Meeting. p. 9-10.

Technical Abstract: In contemporary biodiesel production it is typical to employ a feedstock that is an isolated lipid, such as vegetable oil, animal fat, or waste grease. This necessitates the prior isolation of the lipids from raw material feedstocks, which adds cost and processing technology to biodiesel production. We have demonstrated that incubation of flaked soybeans directly in alkaline methanol achieves high efficiency transesterification, eliminating the need for prior isolation of the lipid (Haas et al., J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 81:83-89, 2004). However, economic analysis indicated that the process costs were not competitive with those for producing biodiesel from isolated oil. We have now determined that the removal of water from the soy flakes greatly reduces the alcohol requirement of the reaction. Following optimization of the reaction employing dried feedstock, an economic analysis indicated a 68% reduction in process costs relative to the use of full-moisture flakes. The applicability of this 'in situ' transesterification process for simple fatty acid alkyl ester production from other feedstocks has now been investigated. The in situ transesterification of canola seeds for the production of the methyl esters of canola oil will be described. Another potential feedstock that has been explored is 'meat and bone meal' (MBM), which is a product of the rendering industry. Annual U.S. production is approximately 1.5 million metric tons. Due to the occurrence of mad cow disease, the use of MBM as an animal feed, its largest use, has been greatly reduced. The lipid content of MBM is 7-10%. Optimal conditions for the production of fatty acid alkyl esters from MBM by in situ transesterification will be presented.