Biorefining of oleochemicals using synthetic membranes

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Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that offers proven net green house gas reductions. The life cycle analysis of biodiesel indicates that 3.2 units of energy can be obtained for every unit of energy input in its production. This is the highest energy yield of all liquid transportation fuels; well above petrodiesel and gasoline. However, biodiesel is not a distillate which seriously affects its quality. It is the objective of this work to significantly improve biodiesel quality and stability by the use of a novel membrane reactor developed in our laboratories. In addition to this, the possibility of capturing oleochemicals by this new technology will be determined. Membrane reactor technology offers significant potential in recuperating valuable oleophilic substances found in raw seed oils. The rapidly expanding biodiesel industry offers an untapped source of oleochemicals, such as natural vitamins and oleophilic substances found in these oils. Present biodiesel processing technology cannot capture these substances. Their capture will offset the cost of raw feedstocks; reducing the cost of biodiesel while increasing its purity. The influence of these compounds on the stability of biodiesel will be investigated. It is proposed in this work to transesterify a number of raw seed oils; isolate and identify the unsaponifiable substances retained in the membrane reactor and study their effect on fuel stability. It is the first time that such a process stream is available. The recuperation of these oleochemicals, as a result of our newly developed membrane reactor, is of great interest given the unique combination of reaction and separation occurring in the reactor and the potential quantities of unsaponifiable material available in the production of biodiesel. The environmental footprint of existing biodiesel plants will be reduced in a second project aimed at removing glycerol prior to water washing or adsorption in conventional processes. Both projects will enhance the commercial acceptance of higher blends of biodiesel by improving its purity and stability; realizing the full green house gas mitigation potential of this excellent renewable fuel.