Patent ID: 7806945

Claim:
A process for the production of purified biodiesel from a feedstock containing at least one fatty acid, the process comprising: (A) converting the at least one fatty acid in the feedstock to a glyceride; (B) reacting the glyceride with at least one alcohol to produce a fatty acid alkyl ester wherein the reaction is conducted in a transesterification reactor and further wherein the at least one alcohol is added to the transesterification reactor at a rate that is greater than the stoichiometric amount of alcohol required for transesterification; and (C) separating the product of step (B) into a fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream and a glycerin rich stream; and (D) purifying the fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream by distillation or fractionation to produce purified biodiesel having an acid number less than or equal to 0.80 mg KOH/g and total glycerin less than or equal to 0.240% mass without subjecting the fatty acid alkyl ester rich steam to water washing.