US 7,321,052 B2
Process for production of a composition useful as a fuel
Dennis J. Miller, Okemos, Mich. (US); Lars Peereboom, Haslett, Mich. (US); Aspi K. Kolah, East Lansing, Mich. (US); Navinchandra S. Asthana, East Lansing, Mich. (US); and Carl T. Lira, East Lansing, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. (US)
Filed on Feb. 28, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/364,241.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/657580, filed on Mar. 01, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0199970 A1, Sep. 07, 2006
Int. Cl. C07C 69/02 (2006.01); C07C 43/00 (2006.01); C07D 317/70 (2006.01); C07D 319/06 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 560—231  [568/590; 549/369; 549/430] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A continuous process for the preparation of a composition useful as a fuel oil which comprises:
(a) reacting in a first closed vessel containing a first solid acid catalyst, a triglyceride and a lower alkanol containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms at a first elevated temperature to produce a first mixture comprising glycerol, monoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides, lower alkanol, and transesterified fatty acid ester as a partial transesterification mixture; and
(b) reacting in a second closed vessel above a second acid catalyst the partial transesterification mixture and additional of the alkanol, with an aldehyde, ketone containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a diether containing 2 to 20 carbon atoms below the second acid catalyst at a second elevated temperature with removal of excess alkanol, and aldehyde, ketone or diether from an upper portion of the second vessel, to form a mixture of the transesterified fatty acid ester and a glycerol acetal which is removed from a lower portion of the second closed vessel to thereby provide the composition.