SG11201408134RA - Dual catalyst esterification - Google Patents

Abstract

(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (43) International Publication Date 25 September 2014 (25.09.2014) WIPOIPCT (10) International Publication Number WO 2014/150678 A1 (51) International Patent Classification: C09F 7/00 (2006.01) (21) International Application Number: (22) International Filing Date: (25) Filing Language: (26) Publication Language: PCT/US2014/023950 12 March 2014 (12.03.2014) English English (30) Priority Data: 61/800,986 15 March 2013 (15.03.2013) US (71) Applicant: RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC. [US/US]; 416 S. Bell Ave., Ames, IA 50010 (US). (72) Inventors: SLADE, David, A.; 2729 Northwood Dr, Ames, IA 50010 (US). ELLENS, Cody, J.; 323 SE Springwood Dr, Ankeny, IA (US). BROWN, Jared, N.; 2323 NW Cherry St., Ankeny, IA (US). POLLARD, An­ thony, J.S.; 719 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA 50010 (US). AL- BIN, Bradley, Neil; 3031 Bayberry RD, Ames, IA 50014 (US). (74) Agents: CARTER, Ryan, N. et al.; Nyemaster Goode, P.C., 625 First Street SE, Suite 400, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 (US). (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of national protection available)'. AE, AG, AL, AM, AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JP, KE, KG, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of regional protection available)'. ARIPO (BW, GH, GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). Declarations under Rule 4.17: — of inventorship (Rule 4.17(iv)) Published: — with international search report (Art. 21(3)) — before the expiration of the time limit for amending the claims and to be republished in the event of receipt of amendments (Rule 48.2(h)) (54) Title: DUAL CATALYST ESTERIFICATION Fig. 1 100—» 105- 00 l> o © CJ (57) Abstract: Methods, processes, apparatus, equipment and systems are disclosed for converting carboxylic acids into esters by es - terification with alcohol and a dual catalyst. The method combines homogenous and heterogeneous a catalyst in one or more reactors to increase the conversion of carboxylic acids compared to using a homogenous and/or heterogeneous catalyst independently. The invention converts free fatty acids into esters by esterification with alcohol and a dual catalyst such that the reaction mixture contains sufficiently low free fatty acids and the amount of free fatty acids in the product stream leaving the process remains stable over time.