NZ625925B2 - Process for obtaining a diesel like fuel - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an enrichment method for obtaining components for the production of a diesel like fuel additive or a diesel like fuel from crude tall oil. In the method, lipophilic components, including fatty acids, present in said crude tall oil, are extracted with an organic solvent which may be selected from n-hexane, cyclohexane, n-heptane and petroleum diesel and the resulting extract is washed with sulfuric acid and water. cted from n-hexane, cyclohexane, n-heptane and petroleum diesel and the resulting extract is washed with sulfuric acid and water.

Description

PROCESS FOR ING A DIESEL LIKE FUEL Field of the invention The invention relates to a method for ing an enriched material for obtaining a diesel like fuel or a diesel like fuel additive from crude tall oil and to such an enriched material. Further, the invention relates a diesel like filel or a diesel like fuel additive and to method for obtaining such from crude tall oil.

Summary Due to the green-house effect and the fact the oil wells of the world eventually will run out, there is an st in alternative renewable filels throughout the world. As an example, bio-ethanol has been introduced as alternative to gasoline or as addition in gasoline to reduce or eliminate the bution to the green-house effect.

Similarly, biodiesel, referring to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel filel ting of hain alkyl (methyl, propyl or ethyl) esters of fatty acids, has found use as an alternative or addition to petroleum diesel. Typically, sel is made by transesterflcation of triglycerides, ating from a vegetable oil or animal fat feedstock, with an l, such as methanol, giving fatty acid methyl esters (FAME:s) and glycerol. Although sodium and potassium methoxide commonly is used to produce alkyl esters of triglycerides, as methanol is the cheapest alcohol available, ethanol, as well as higher alcohols such as isopropanol and butanol, can be used to produce alkyl esters.

For every metric ton of biodiesel produced, approximately 100 kg of glycerol is obtained as by-product. Although there has been a market for the glycerol obtained, which assisted the economics of the process as a whole, the increase in global biodiesel production, has resulted in crash for the market price for crude aqueous glycerol.

Nowadays, the production of glycerol thereby lowers the l process economics.

A variety of plant and animal oils may be used to e biodiesel. As common examples may be mentioned rapeseed and soybean oils, animal fats including tallow, lard, yellow grease, n fat, as wells as ducts of the production of Omega-3 fatty acids, and oil from halophytes, such as Salicorm'a bigelovz'z'.

However, current worldwide production of vegetable oil and animal fat is not sufficient to replace liquid fossil fuel use. Furthermore, some object to the vast amount of farming and the resulting fertilization, pesticide use, and land use conversion that would be needed to produce the additional vegetable oil. There is thus a need for alternative sources for the production of raw materials le for fiarther refinement to diesel engine fuel and fuel additives.

The European Union has also declared that fiael production from food crops is to be severely limited in the future. This statement is further suggesting that more renewable diesel engine fuel needs to come from non-food crops.

After the transesterfication, biodiesel, unlike straight vegetable oil, has combustion properties similar to those of petroleum diesel. Thus, biodiesel may replace petroleum diesel in most current uses. Similar to l used to replace gasoline, the effective heat value (approx. 37MJ/kg) of biodiesel is about 9% lower than the heat value of petroleum diesel. Thus, biodiesel give rise to a lower fuel economy compared to petroleum diesel. Further, the engine performance (e.g. torque max and power max) of a diesel engine is typically d if biodiesel is used as fuel compared to petroleum It would thus be of interest to find a renewable alternative to e.g. rape seed methyl esters not suffering from the above mentioned draw backs for use as a biofuel or as additive to petroleum diesel.

Keskinen et al (cf. Energy Conversion and Management 51 (2010) 2863-286) have reported the use of methyl esters of fatty acids and and resinic acids (also denoted rosin acids within the art) obtained from tall oil, as additives to petroleum diesel. The fatty and resinic acids were obtained from tall oil by lation in order to remove the unsaponifiables. Further, also others have reported the use of esters of fatty acids obtained from tall oil as additives to eum diesel. As an example, WO 29344 discloses a process related to such use. In the disclosed process, tall oil obtained by extraction is distilled to obtain a distillate sing fatty acids for subsequent esterf1cation.

In US 3,177,196 and US 2,354,812, respectively, processes for fractioning of tall oil, i.e. separating fatty acids from retinoic acids and nifiables, by extraction are disclosed. Similarly, US 4,543,900 discloses a process for fractioning of tall oil, i.e. separating fatty acids from unsaponifiables, by extraction.

However, none of the disclosed processes of art overcomes the m of the inherent lower fuel economy and engine performance of biodiesel based on .

There are alternatives to transesterfication of ycerides within the art for the production of diesel like fuels from renewable plant based feedstocks. As an example, discloses a process for manufacturing renewable diesel filels from ylic acid rich organic material originating in plants, by treatment of said carboxylic acid rich material in at least three process stages; a) a distillation step under vacuum b) a decarboxylation step in the presence of an heterogeneous decarboxylation catalyst; c) a tion step wherein carbon dioxide is separated from the renewable diesel formed in step b). However, the lation steps as well as the decarboxylation step are energy ing. Furthermore, using temperatures exceeding 100°C, will initiate formation of (poly)aromatic hydrocarbons and polymerization.

Furthermore, discloses a method for conversion of crude tall oil into diesel fuels. The sed method comprises the steps of: (a) l of non-oil contaminants, including calcium, t in the crude tall oil thereby forming a refined tall oil ; (b) removal of the volatile fraction of the refined tall oil stream; (c) separation of the volatiles free oil stream into two process s, wherein the first process stream comprises components with boiling points, at atmospheric pressure, in the range of 170-400 degrees C; and (d) ng the oxygen content in the stream comprised of components with boiling points in the range 200 - 400 degrees C. suffers from similar disadvantages as .

Although, fatty acids and rosin acids being present in crude tall oil may be separated from each other by the means of distillation, the fatty acids as well as the rosins acid will at least partly till with neutral dic components having r boiling points. EP 1 568 760 discloses a process for refining crude tall oil overcoming said problem. In the disclosed process crude tall oil is saponified to form saponified crude tall oil sing unsaponifiable matter, sodium or potassium soaps of fatty acids and rosin acids and water. The saponified crude tall oil is mixed with a liquid hydrocarbon. Subsequently, the formed hydrocarbon phase comprising unsaponifiable matter and being substantially free of water is separated from the formed aqueous phase comprising fatty acids and rosin acids substantially free of the hydrocarbons. By such a procedure the neutral no-acidic components, such as fatty alcohols, various hydrocarbon derivatives, such as squalene, docosanol, tetracosanol, sitosterol and sitostanol, being present in crude tall oil may be ted form the fatty acids and rosin acids. Subsequently to the separation of neutral no-acidic components, the fatty acids and rosin acids may be separated into one water free fraction comprising the fatty acids and one water free fraction comprising rosin acids.

Thus, there is need within the art for a process for obtaining an enriched material for obtaining a diesel like fuel or a diesel like filel additive from renewable source .

Summary Consequently, the present invention seeks to mitigate, alleviate, eliminate or circumvent one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination by providing an enrichment method for ing components for the production of a diesel like fuel additive or a diesel like fuel from crude tall oil. In such a method, lipophilic ents present in crude tall oil are extracted with an organic solvent. Subsequently, the obtained organic extract, comprising ilic components, are washed with sulfilric acid. Thereafter, the acid washed c extract is washed with water to obtain tall oil enriched in components for obtaining a diesel like fuel additive or a diesel like fiJel.

A filrther aspect of the invention relates to a method for obtaining a diesel like filel additive or a diesel like fuel from crude tall oil. In such a method, the hereinabove mentioned tall oil enriched in components for obtaining a diesel like fuel additive or a diesel like filel is esterified with a Cl-3 alkanol, whereby a diesel like filel additive may be obtained. An even fithher aspect of the invention relates to a diesel like fiJel additive obtainable by such a .

A filrther aspect of the invention relates to a method for obtaining a diesel like filel from crude tall oil. In such a method, tall oil enriched comprising in components for obtaining a diesel like fuel additive is obtained in a manner such that the tall oil enriched in components for obtaining a diesel like fuel ve comprises at least part of the organic solvent used to extract the lipophilic components. Subsequently, carboxylic acids, being present in the enriched tall oil, are esterfied with a Cl-3 alkanol, such as methanol, to obtain a diesel like filel. An even further aspect of the invention relates to a diesel like fuel obtainable by such a method.

Further advantageous features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. In on, advantageous features of the invention are elaborated in embodiments disclosed herein.

Detailed description of red embodiments Crude tall oil (CTO) is ed through acidification of black liquor soaps, being by-products of Kraft pulping of wood for obtaining cellulose. Kraft g consists of the digestion of wood chips at high temperature and re in diluted ne liquor containing sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide as active ingredients.

The digestion disrupts the cellular structure and causes the dissolution of , other chemical products contained in the wood and hemicellulose. Thus, the cellulose fiber sed in the spent liquor from the digestion may be ed by ion. The reaming , known as black liquor, is r evaporated and calcinated for the recovery of salts and alkalis, which return to the Kraft pulping process. After several stages of evaporation, the concentration of solids is around 30% and a portion of the , known as black liquor soaps, becomes insoluble and the insoluble portion is separated by skimming. The obtained skimmed pasty matter does typically have a water content between 30 and 50%.

Typically, black liquor soaps are transformed into crude tall oil by reacting the black liquor soaps with sulfuric acid, whereby fatty and rosin acid soaps are acidified into their corresponding free acids (fatty and rosin acids). Rosin acids are also denoted resin acids in the art. Upon addition of sulfilric acid the black liquor soaps are generally separated in three phases. The upper layer is denoted crude tall oil (CTO), and its main ents are fatty and rosin acids, the major ones being diterpenic acids, such as abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, and pimaric acid, unsaponif1able matter, including fatty alcohols, s arbon tives, such as squalene, and some suspended solids and water. The second layer or middle layer contains most of the lignin and insoluble solids originally present in black liquor soaps. The lower layer or brine is fiandamentally composed of water and sodium sulfate and the sulfate is typically recovered. Crude tall oil typically consists of from 40 to 60 wt.% organic acids, including fatty and rosin acids, and 40-60wt.% neutral substances. The crude tall oil typically also comprises sulphur, calcium, and sodium at 50 tol 100 ppm levels While most of the various organic compounds being present in CTO in principle may find use as a feedstock for the production of fuels, CTO also comprises some organic compounds less suitable for the production of fuels. These organic compounds include aromatic compounds. Further, CTO also comprises s inorganic impurities, such as inorganic salts, like those from sodium, and calcium. In order to avoid excessive wear of the engine, the t of sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, as wells as phosphourous compounds, in organic extracts for fuel applications, should be as low as possible.

As stated above, the properties of FAME differ from ones of petroleum diesel.

Thus, FAME mainly has found use as an additive to petroleum diesel and for use in certain adapted engines. Further, fatty acids, being of the starting als for the production of FAME, only constitute up to 50% of the total content of organic combustible compounds in CTO. Thus, only recovering the fatty acids implies a significant loss in yield in terms of using the combustible components of tall oil as efficient as possible.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that a diesel like, renewable fuel additive may be obtained from crude tall oil in high yields, by ing the crude tall oil for fatty acids, as well as certain diesel like components, including middle range boiling diterpene like compounds, many of them unknown in the art, and subsequent esterf1cation of the enriched tall oil. The esterif1ed enriched tall oil has calculated net heat value close to the one of petroleum diesel and significantly higher than one of FAME. r, a relative high proportion, i.e. more than 30 wt%, of such a diesel like filel additive may be blended with petroleum diesel without negatively ing the combustion properties of the petroleum diesel or the engine performance. t bond to any theory, it is ed that the diesel like components of tall oil, provide the diesel like fuel additive with properties compensating for the properties of the FAME:s in terms of engine performance and fiJel economy (cf Table 5 further below) Furthermore, the enriched tall oil is produced in a manner consuming less energy than in the production ofFAME from ional sources e.g. rape seed, sunflower and soy bean oils. The herein disclosed method, is suitable for local production and consumption, e.g. in connection to pulp and paper milling, minimizing the carbon footprint compared to most biofilels through shorter ortation routes and less energy consuming processing.

Thus, an embodiment relates to an enrichment method for obtaining components for the production of a diesel like fuel or a diesel like fuel additive from crude tall oil.

In such a method, crude tall oil is provided. Typically, the crude tall oil is obtained through acidification of black liquor soaps, being by-products of Kraft pulping ofwood for obtaining cellulose. Therefore, the provided crude tall oil is typically acidic.

In the ment method, lipophilic components, including fatty acids, present in the crude tall oil are extracted with an organic solvent, whereby inorganic contaminations and hydrophilic c contaminations are d. r, fatty acids, as well as certain diesel like components, including middle range boiling diterpene like compounds, are enriched. As already described, it seems that these diesel like components e the diesel like fuel additive with properties compensating for the properties of the FAME:s in terms of engine performance and fuel economy.

The organic solvent used for the extraction is typically an organic solvent non- le with water, in order to allow for efficient extraction of lipophilic components and phase separation.

As the enriched material, due to the relative high iodine number, is heat sensitive, high temperatures should preferably be avoided in order to minimize polymerization.

Accordingly, solvents that may be removed under vacuum without applying high temperatures are preferred in ments, wherein the organic solvent is to be removed. In such embodiments, the organic solvent preferably has a boiling point of less than 120°C, such as less than 100°C, at atmospheric pressure. Preferred examples of such organic ts are C5-C10, such as C6-8, linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbons. Specific examples of preferred organic solvents include n-hexane, exane, and n-heptane.

In embodiments wherein the organic solvent not is to be removed, it preferably has a boiling point of at least 150°C, preferably at least 200°C. Preferred examples of such organic solvents are C10-C30, such as 2, linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof. A specific example of a preferred organic solvent for use in such an embodiment is petroleum diesel. Petroleum diesel may be ed Via fractional distillation of crude oil between 200°C and 350°C at atmospheric pressure, resulting in a mixture of C8 to 21 hydrocarbons. By employing petroleum diesel as organic solvent, a diesel like fuel comprising fuel additives obtained Via extraction of crude tall oil may be obtained.

In embodiments, wherein the filel additive obtained Via extraction of crude tall oil anyhow is to be used as additive for petroleum diesel, it is advantageous to employ petroleum diesel as organic solvent, as the need to ate the organic solvent then may be sed with, resulting in higher yields and fewer process steps. Further, problems associated with the purification of the ated c solvent for recycling of it are them also eliminated. Organic solvents not be evaporated, are typically selected from organic solvents haVing a g point in the distillation range of petroleum .

In ting lipophilic components present in the crude tall oil, the crude tall oil and the organic solvent may be mixed in a weight ratio (crude tall oil:organic solvent) of 2:1 to 1:5, such as 1:1 to 1:2. Further, the crude tall oil may be extracted more than one time, such as 2 or 3 times. Use of more than one extraction is deemed to be more nt than increasing the amount of organic solvent used in a single W0 2013/083768 extraction. If extracted repeatedly, weight ratios of 2:1 to 1:5, such as 1:1 to 1:2, or 1:1, of crude tall oil: organic solvent may be used in each extraction step.

In order to facilitate phase separation, water as well as organic solvent may be added to the crude tall oil in extracting lipophilic components present in the crude tall oil. The weight ratio (crude tall oil:water) may be 1:1 to 10:1, such as 2:1 to 7:1, such 3:1 to 5:1. As the fatty acids are to be enriched in the organic solvent, the pH should be kept below 7 during the extraction. Thus, any water added during the extraction should preferably be neutral or acidic.

Furthermore, the process time could be shortened by applying centrifugal tion. However, also gravimetric separation could be used.

Subsequent to the extraction, the organic extract, or the combined organic extracts, is to be washed with sulfuric acid. The wash with sulfiaric acid will cause precipitation and/or separation of some components from the organic extract. The precipitated and/or separated ents are typically less le as diesel like fuel additives. As the present method typically does not comprise any lation step, it is important to remove such components being less suitable as diesel like fuel ves Further, the wash with sulfuric acid may also cause sulfonation of certain components, such as mono, but especially polycyclic, aromatic components.

Sulfonation will increase their water solubility, whereby they may be washed away.

Also removal of aromatic components was found to be beneficial in terms of ing the usefulness of the extract as diesel like fuel additive.

In order to minimize the on of unsaturated fatty acids and rosin acids, being present in the c extract, with the ic acid, it is preferred to cool the organic extract prior to the wash with sulfuric acid. Thus, the organic extract may be cooled to between 0°C and 10°C, such as to between 2°C and 5°C. The organic extract may even be cooled to temperatures below 0°C. However, it is red to not cool the organic extract to a ature below the melting point of the sulfuric acid.

Furthermore, it was noticed that cooling of the organic extract caused precipitation of some components. It is believed that these components may include high-boiling neutral substances. As removal of such components is ed to improve the cold properties of the final fuel additive, the cooled organic extract is, according to an embodiment, filtered prior to being washed with sulfilric acid.

In the wash of the organic t, sulfuric acid comprising at least 90 wt% H2804, such as at least 95 wt% H2804, may preferably be used in order to obtain efficient washing and sulfonation of aromatic components. lly, concentrated sulfiaric acid is used. Upon washing the organic extract, 2 to 20 wt.%, such as 5 to 15 wt.% sulfuric acid be added to the organic extract. Subsequent to adding sulfiaric , may acid, the phases are mixed thoroughly; thereafter the washed organic extract is separated.

Subsequent, to the acid wash, the acid washed organic t may be washed with water, thereby removing any H2SO4 remaining in the c extract. The wash with water may typically be repeated until the pH of the wash water is 3 or above.

Preferably, the wash with water is repeated until the pH the wash water is between 3.5 and 4.5. Further, the wash with water serve to improve the removal of slightly hydrophilic components still present in the organic phase, such as sulfonated aromatic components.

Subsequent, to the acid wash, before or after the wash with water, if performed, the washed organic extract may be . Similar to what has been described above, cooling of the washed organic extract may cause precipitation of some components. As l of such ents is believed to improve the cold properties of the final fuel additive, the cooled organic extract may, according to an embodiment, be filtered and/or centrifuged to remove precipitated components. The washed organic extract may be cooled to a temperature of 10°C or below, such as a temperature of 5°C or below. While the washed organic extract may be cooled to a temperature between 10°C and 0°C, such as to between 2°C and 5°C according to an embodiment, the organic extract may be even be cooled to temperatures below 0°C, according to an alternative embodiment. By cooling the organic extract to temperatures below 0°C, also water being present in the washed organic extract may be crystallized and precipitated.

According to an embodiment, the washed c extract subsequently is ated under reduced pressure, thereby lowering, or even eliminating, the content of organic solvent and/or water in the c extract. As water may lower the yield in the subsequent esterif1cation, water being a side product in the esterf1cation, it is ageous to reduce the water content of the c content as much as possible, such as below 800 ppm. The water content may also, as known to d person, be reduced by applying drying agents, such as lar sieves.

Further, although the c solvent in principle could form part of the filel additive, the t may also be evaporated to allow for recycling of it. The evaporated solvent may be re-used directly, or it may be purified, such as by distillation, before being reused. If organic solvent having a boiling point of less than 150°C, such as less than 120°C or less than 100°C, is used, it is preferred to evaporate the solvent as its boiling point is distinct from the distillation range of petroleum diesel.

As already described, the organic solvent is not to be evaporated according to some embodiments, but to form part of a diesel like fuel comprising lipophilic components extracted from crude tall oil. In such embodiments, water present in the washed organic extract may anyhow preferably be evaporated. Organic solvents not to be evaporated are typically selected from organic solvents having a boiling point in the lation range of petroleum . As already explained, a preferred example of such an organic solvent is petroleum diesel.

As the organic extract has a relative high iodine number, it is heat sensitive.

Thus, high temperatures should preferably be d in handling the organic extract.

Further, use of high temperatures is energy consuming, thus affecting the overall economy of the s. According to an embodiment, the method may be designed in such a way that the ature of the crude tall oil, and extracts thereof, does not exceed 80°C in any step of the .

By ng high temperatures in the method, ion of high boiling adducts, such as ric and polyaromatic adducts, may be avoided. Thus, the need to distill the product, in order to reduce or eliminate the content of such adducts, before being used as a diesel like fuel or a diesel like fuel additive, may be dispensed with.

Further, the acid wash is believed to remove polymeric and polyaromatic adducts originally present in the crude tall oil. In contrast to such polymeric and polyaromatic adducts, there is no need to separate high-boiling ents present in the crude tall oil, from the organic extract.

In order to reduce the acid number of the washed c extract, i.e. tall oil enriched in components for obtaining a diesel like fuel or a diesel like fuel additive, and to lower the boiling point of fatty acids therein, carboxylic acids, lly fatty acids, but also possibly rosin acids, of the washed organic extract may be esterif1ed with a Cl- 3 alkanol, such as methanol. In addition to reduce the acid number of the washed organic extract and lower the boiling point of fatty acids therein, the esterif1cation will reduce the viscosity of the washed organic extract.

As the washed organic t typically is to be employed as diesel like fuel or diesel like fuel additive, the carboxylic acids in the washed organic t may be esterif1ed by adding a Cl-3 alkanol and a catalyst to the washed organic extract. ably the carboxylic acids are esterif1ed at elevated temperature, such as at temperature of 59 to 65°C. Thus, the organic extract may be heated prior to addition of 2012/074768 the Cl-3 alkanol. Preferably, the catalyst is selected among strong acids, which may be removed by conventional methods, such as filtration, distillation, or extraction, subsequent to the esterf1cation. As an example, the catalyst may be concentrated sulfuric acid. Further, the catalyst may be a sulfonic acid resin. uent to the addition of the Cl-3 alkanol and the catalyst, the reaction mixture may be heated, such as to 59-65°C. The reaction mixture may be heated for sufficient time to establish equilibrium. As an example, the reaction mixture may be heated for 3-5 hours.

As the esterf1cation is an equilibrium process, molar excess of the Cl-3 alkanol may be used. Typically, Cl-3 alkanol may be added in a weight ratio (washed organic extract: Cl-3 alkanol ) of 1:1 to 1:5, such 1:1 to 1:2. The catalyst may be added to the Cl-3 alkanol before being added to the washed c extract. As an example, 0.5 to 5 wt%, such 1 to 2 wt%, e. g. about 1 wt.%, concentrated ic acid may be added to the Cl-3 alkanol before being added to the washed organic extract.

Subsequent to the f1cation, the esterif1ed organic extract may be washed with water, whereby any excess of methanol and the catalyst may be removed.

Remaining ol and water may be removed by evaporation under reduced pressure.

Similar, to what have been described above, it is preferred if the method is designed to avoid heating the organic extract to temperatures above 80°C in any step.

By such a method that has been described, a diesel like fiJel, or a diesel like fiJel additive being le for addition to petroleum diesel, may be produced in high yields, such as in a yield (mass) of 50 to 75%, from crude tall oil. Further the need for energy consuming distillation steps, ng the overall process economy, may be dispensed with. Importantly, the obtained diesel like filel, or a diesel like fuel additive, will not lower the fuel economy or the engine mance compared to eum diesel.

Further embodiments thus relates to a method for obtaining a diesel like filel additive from crude tall oil and to a method for obtaining a diesel like fuel from crude tall oil. Such methods comprise an esterf1cation step.

The obtained fuel additive or diesel like fuel comprises a complex mixture of ents enriched from crude tall oil, of which some have been fied. An embodiment relates to diesel like fiJel additive obtainable by such methods as described herein.

Such a diesel like fuel ve may have one or several of the following properties: - a iodine number according to SS-EN 14111 of at least 170; - comprise between 40 wt% and 60 wt% of components other than fatty acids, methyl esters of fatty acids, rosin acids and methyl esters of rosin acids ; - an acid number according to SS-EN 14104 of not more than 100, such as not more than 80; - a heat value of at least 39 MJ/kg, ing to Boie (cf. Data och Diagram ; Morstedt/Hellsten 1994 ISBN 010876-7); and - a density in the range of 930 to 960 kg/ m3 at 15°C.

The obtained fuel additive or diesel like fuel comprises a complex mixture of components enriched from crude tall oil, of which some have been esterified. An embodiment relates to diesel like fuel obtainable by such s as bed herein.

The content of the c solvent used to extract the ilic components, e.g. petroleum diesel, in the diesel like fuel obtainable by such methods as described herein may be 10 to 95, such as 40 to 80, wt% Such a diesel like fuel may have one or several of the following properties: - a cetane number according to EN 15159 of at least 50 - a lation range according to ASTM D7169, wherein the lower end point of the lation range is in the interval 160-190°C and the upper end point of the distillation range is in the interval 380 to 420°C; - a cold filter clogging point according to EN 116 -20°C or less.

Although, the washed organic extract may be esterif1ed to obtain a diesel like fiael or a diesel like fuel additive, it may be used in other types of ses as well. As example, the washed organic extract is deemed to be useful as an alternative feedstock for decarboxylation in such a process as described in WC 2009/ 13 15 10 or for reformation in a petroleum refinery. Furthermore, the organic extract is suited for fiarther treatment (with hydrogen etc.) to obtain a product very r to standardized petroleum diesel fuel, as it is of very high purity with very low levels of inorganic and organic impurities and as it has suitable g range.

One embodiment thus relates to use of the washed organic extract, or the esterified organic extract, as ng material for reformation in a petroleum refinery.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest . The preferred specific embodiments described herein are therefore to be construed as merely illustrative and not limitative of the remainder of the description in any way whatsoever.

Further, although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. , the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims and, other embodiments than the specific above are equally possible within the scope of these appended , e. g. different than those described above.

In the claims, the term ises/comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Additionally, gh individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of es is not feasible and/or advantageous.

In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms "a", "an", “first”, “second” etc do not preclude a plurality.

Experimental The following examples are mere es and should by no mean be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims.

Example 1 Crude tall oil The crude tall oil was produced h the Kraft process.

Extraction with organic solvent The extraction steps were carried out with n-hexane and heptane, tively.

Three different weight ratios of organic solvent:CTO (l :1, 15:1, and 2:1) were used for the extraction. CTO was weighed into the separation filnnel, whereafter the solvent was added to the CTO. Subsequently, the funnel was shaken vigorously for one minute. The filnnel was then placed in an upright position allowing its content to separate for 2 hours. The upper, lipid, phase was then decanted from the lower non-lipid phase to obtain enriched tall oil.

Wash with sulfuric acid Subsequent to the extraction step, the enriched tall oil was washed with sulfuric acid. Before the addition of sulfiaric acid, the enriched tall oil was cooled to 5°C. Upon cooling of the organic phase, high-boiling neutral substances did llize.

Precipitated al was removed by filtration prior to the addition of sulfuric acid.

Once filtered, concentrated sulfiaric acid (>95 wt.% H2804) was added to the enriched tall oil and the resulting mixture was d by an ic stirrer. The temperature was kept at 5°C during the washing step. After stirring for 1 hour, the washed enriched tall oil was separated by decanting it from the acid phase and any precipitated matter to obtain an acid washed, enriched tall oil.

Wash with water The acid washed, enriched tall oil was transferred to a separation filnnel, and washed with ordinary tap water in an oil:water ratio of l :0.5 (w/w). The acid washed, enriched tall oil was repeatedly washed until the water phase had a pH ing 3.5 (typically 3 to 4 times), to obtain purified enriched tall oil.

Crystallization It had been observed that the content of solid nces, e.g. ls of dehydroabietic acid, abietic acid, sitosterol and its esters etc, did influence the viscosity of the ed oil. In order to lower the content of such compounds, and thereby lower the viscosity of the enriched oil, the extracted oil phases were cooled and filtered, as indicated above, prior to the wash with sulfiaric acid.

Further, the purified enriched oil was also cooled, typically to 5°C, and filtered uent to the water wash step.

In order to facilitate the filtration, part of the formed ls were collected by gravimetric separation prior to filtration.

Evaporation In order to allow for recycling of the organic t, as well lowering the water content of the purified enriched oil from the crystallisation step, the purified enriched oil was evaporated under reduced pressure (0.1 bar) at an elevated temperature not exceeding 80°C to provide evaporated purified enriched tall oil. The water content was typically reduced below 800 ppm in order to facilitate the subsequent esterification.

In Table l, the yield using heptane as organic solvent are given after the various steps.

Table 1 Proportions solventzCTO 1:1 1.5:1 2:1 CTO g 800 663.5 540 Heptane g 800 995.3 1080 Y'1e1d 0 nonf -1'1p1'd phase after ex rac ion gt t' 172 (10.8) 185.8 (9.7) 99 (6.1) % b mass Yield of enriched ta11 oi1 after the extraction g 1428 (89.2) 1473 (88.8) 1521 (93.9) % b mass Yield of nted phase as a result of the acid 833 (52.1) 210 (12.7) 355 (21.9) wash % b mass Yield of purified enriched ta11 oi1 after 364 (45.5) 371 (56) 350 (65) eva oration %b mass It was concluded that a weight ratio of 1.5 :1 gly was the most efficient, as far as quality and yield were concerned, taken the time-and effort-consuming handling with solvent into account.

It was ed that the higher the tion of solvent the higher the yield of purified enriched oil. Further, it was observed that the process time could be diminished by centrifugal instead of gravimetric separation.

In table 2 below, the yield of evaporated purified enriched tall oil, the water content in the evaporated purified enriched tall oil, and the acid value in the evaporated purified enriched tall oil, wherein heptane in a 1:1-weight ratio has been used in the extraction step, for various amounts of sulfuric acid in the acid wash step, are given Table 2 Water Organic acid- Yield of . . Mineral acid acid Amount of enriched content Yleld 9f sediment related acid value related sulfuric acid (wt.. . in the tall 011 (%. 1n the . . value in the in the enriched enriched acid wash (% by enriched tall oil %) by mass) . tall oil tall 011 mass) (mg KOH/g) (mg KOH/g) (ppm) 0 0 - 0 1.1 128.8 2 101 - 0 5.7 109.5 3 103 - 7.2 3 134.3 4 83 - 15 3 .6 121.2 6 61 3600 44.8 1.3 118.9 45 1700 55 1.3 128.7 12 27 1100 56 1.6 117.5 14 35 - 78 1.8 115 .7 As seen from table 2, that the amount of sulfuric acid added was determining, not only for the recovered quantity of purified oil, but also for the water content of the oil along with amount of nted material. Further, it can be seen that the acid wash only had a minor influence on the organic acid-related acid value, indicating that the fatty acids and the rosin acids not were affected by the acid wash.

Esterz'ficatl'on Carboxylic acids, and especially fatty acids, of the evaporated purified enriched tall oil were to be esterified with methanol. Thus, the purified evaporated enriched tall oil was heated to 59 to 65°C. Subsequently, methanol comprising 1 wt% concentrated sulfiiric acid was added to the heated evaporated enriched tall oil. ol was added in a weight ratio of 2: 1 in relation to the molar weight of oleic acid, C18: 1, with the results of the acid and/or saponification number determinations as given values, and the resulting on mixture was heated to 59 to 65°C for 3 to 5 hours. Thereafter, the resulting mixture was washed with water and evaporated to obtain fied enriched tall oil.

In table 3 below, representative parameters of the obtained esterified enriched tall oil are ed to the corresponding ters for petroleum diesel and FAME.

Table 3 Property Petroleum diesel FAME Esterified enriched tall oil Flash point > 65°C > 100°C > 100°C Density kg/m3 810-950 800-900 940-950 Fatty acid methyl esters % (w/w) 0 Min 96.5 40-60 Neutralslwt.% 100 0 40-60 Distillation range (90 % ) 180-370°C 300-360°C 310-410°C Alkali metal content (K-- Na mg/kg) Not ted Max 10 Max 10 Earth metal content (Ca -- Mg mg/kg) Not regulated Max 10 Max 10 Calculated net heat value MJ/kg 42-44 37-3 8 40-41 e.g. hydrocarbons and free alcohols As seen from table 3, the net heat value of the esterifled enriched tall oil is significantly higher than the one of FAME. Further, other relevant parameters are similar. Hence, esterified enriched tall oil is deemed to be a suitable ve to petroleum diesel having a higher net heat value than FAME.

A blend of 3 lwt% esterified enriched tall oil and 69 wt% eum diesel, comprising 5 wt% FAME, gave a diesel like fuel having cetane number of 50 according to EN ISO 5165, a ity of 3.5 cSt, according to ASTM D 445, and a flash point of 635°C, according to EN ISO 3679, thus confirming that the esterified enriched tall oil is suitable as diesel like fuel additive to petroleum diesel.

Further, the fied enriched tall oil (31 wt%) and an ordinary diesel engine fiiel (69 wt%), Mk1 from Swedish commercial grade, were blended. The resulting fuel blend was combusted in a diesel fuel engine, Chevrolet Duramax 6, 2 L V8 mounted in a test rig equipped with a water break . Some vital parameters were logged during the test comparing to data supplied from a similar test with ordinary diesel engine fuel. The test generated the following data (cf. Table 4).

Table 4 Diesel fuel Mk1 with added Diesel fuel Mk 1 commercial enriched tall oil (31wt%) grade Torque max (Nrn) 930 911 Power max (hp) 457 448 Cylinder peak pressure max (bar) 183 183 Lambda value 1.55 1.46 As can been seen from table 4, addition of as much as 3 lwt% enriched tall oil to a commercial diesel fuel, resulted in a d filel at least comparable, in terms of maximum engine effect, and even apparently improved, to commercial diesel. Blending of such a high proportion ofFAME or vegetable oil to a commercial diesel fuel would result in reduced engine effect (cf. Table 5 below). Accordingly, the enriched tall oil obtainable via the enrichment method disclosed herein is far better renewable fuel additive than FAME.

In table 5 below the engine performance of petroleum diesel is compared to the engine performance petroleum diesel blended with vegetable oils and FAME, respectively. eum diesel has been given an index of 100 in order to allow for comparison.

Table 5 Parameter Diesel fuel Diesel fuel Diesel Diesel fuel Diesel fuel Diesel fuel Diesel fuel Mk1 with Mkl fuel Mk 1 with 30% with 30% with 20% with added 31% commercial with 33% added added added soy bean added grade added sunflower canola jatropha methyl enriched rape seed oil 2 methyl methyl ester 30%5 tall oil oil 1 ester3 ester4 Torque 102 100 98.7 99.8 97.8 97.5 99,1 Power 102 100 98.7 99.8 97.8 97.5 99,2 SP Technical Research Institute ofSweden, 198 7, Message 3106 2 Kaufman et al, term mance ofdiesel oil and er oil mixtures in diesel engines Farm Research 1982 39(6) 36-43 3 Aybek, Baser et al, Determination ofthe eflect ofbiodiesel use on power flperformance characteristics ofan agricultural tractor in a test laboratory 2009, TUBITAK doi.‘ 6/tar-0907—242 4Sivaprakasam et al: Optimization ofthe transesterification processfor biodiesel production and use of biodiesel in a ssion ignition engine; Energy andfuels 2007, 2], 2998-3003 Ortech ational: Methyl soyate evaluation ofvarious diesel blends in a DDC 6V-92 TA Engine, 1993, 93-E14-21 Example 2 Following the procedure outlined in example 1, but replacing n-hexane and heptane as organic solvent with petroleum diesel, afforded petroleum diesel comprising esterified enriched tall oil. In this example 400 g crude tall oil and 360 g petroleum diesel was used to provide 496 g petroleum diesel comprising esterified enriched tall oil.

As in example 1, the purified enriched oil was evaporated under reduced pressure (0.1 bar) at an elevated temperature not exceeding 80°C to provide evaporated purified enriched tall oil, with reduced water content. The evaporation did however not result in any significant evaporation of the petroleum diesel used as organic solvent.

The properties of the obtained petroleum diesel sing esterified enriched tall oil were compared to the ones of the blend of 3 lwt% esterified enriched tall oil and 69 wt% petroleum diesel, comprising 5 wt% FAME ing to example 1. As can be seen from Table 6, they have similar ties, confirming that use of petroleum diesel as organic solvent is suitable for obtaining a diesel like fuel comprising esterified enriched tall oil.

Table 6 Parameter Example 1 Example 2 Method Distillation range (95%) 180-410°C 0°C ASTM D7169 Cetane No 50 57 EN 15159 Cold filter plugging point -20°C -21°C EN 1 16

Claims (7)

1. An enrichment method for obtaining components for the production of a diesel like fuel ve, or for the tion of a diesel like fuel, from crude tall oil 5 comprising the steps of: - providing crude tall oil; - extracting lipophilic components being present in said crude tall oil with an organic solvent to obtain an organic extract, comprising said lipophilic components; - washing the obtained organic extract with sulfuric acid to obtain an acid 10 washed organic t; and - washing the acid washed organic extract with water, to obtain tall oil enriched in components for obtaining a diesel like filel additive or a diesel like filel.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said organic solvent is a C5- 15 C10 , branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon, such as ne, cyclohexane, or n- heptane.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said organic solvent is a C10- C30, linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said organic solvent is petroleum diesel.

5. The method according to any one of the ing claims, wherein the step 25 of extracting said lipophilic components, comprises 1 to 3 extractions with said organic solvent, wherein the obtained organic extracts are combined into a single organic extract, comprising ted lipophilic components.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 30 weight ratio of crude tall oil:organic solvent in said extraction, or in each of said extractions, is 2:1 to 1:2.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, n water, in on to said organic solvent, is added to the crude tall oil in the extraction step. W0