Patent ID: 7935157
Filing Date: 2011-05-03
Classification: C10L,C11C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An esterification pretreatment method for reducing a high free fatty acid feedstock comprising: providing a feedstock comprising a free fatty acid content in the range of 3 to 30% by weight; providing an alcohol and an acid catalyst; combining the said feedstock with said alcohol and said acid catalyst to form a reaction mixture; forcing said reaction mixture though at least two controlled flow cavitation apparatuses at a processing pressure capable of generating a hydrodynamic cavitation zone in each said controlled flow cavitation apparatus; maintaining a pressure differential across each said controlled flow cavitation apparatus in the range of 50 to 250 psi; holding said reaction mixture exiting said at least one controlled flow cavitation apparatus in a holding tank for at least 10 minutes at a temperature of at least 100° C., wherein the free fatty acid content of said feedstock is reduced to less than 2% by weight by way of esterification reactions.