Patent ID: 7989646

Claim:
A method of producing a biodiesel comprising: i. reacting a vegetable/animal fat or oil with an alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst in a esterification reactor wherein the WHSV in the esterification reactor is between 2 and 5, the pressure in the esterification reactor is between 50 and 80 psi and the temperature in the esterification reactor is between 120 and 200° F. to convert the free fatty acids to esters; ii. reacting the resulting reaction mixture with an alcohol in a transesterification reactor in the presence of an alkaline catalyst wherein the WHSV in the transesterification reactor is 2 to 5, wherein the pressure within the transesterification reactor is between 50 to 80 psig and the temperature in the transesterification reactor is between 120 and 200; and iii. separating the reaction mixture into a biodiesel product and a glycerol byproduct.