Patent ID: 8128825

Claim:
A method for forming biofuel, comprising: introducing a first stream comprising an alcohol proximate an upstream end of a plurality of fibers positioned longitudinally within a conduit reactor, wherein the end of the fibers opposite the upstream end constitutes a downstream end thereof and is disposed proximate a collection vessel; introducing a reactive species within the conduit reactor; introducing a second stream containing lipids comprising trigylcerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, other esters, phospholipids, fatty acids, and/or other carboxylic acids into the conduit reactor proximate the upstream end of the plurality of fibers in the same direction of flow as the first stream, wherein the second stream is in contact with and is substantially immiscible with the first stream, and wherein the first stream and the second stream are introduced into the conduit reactor such that the alcohol and reactive species interact with the lipids of the second stream to form carboxylic esters useful as biofuels comprising one or more of biogasoline, fuel additives, and biodiesel; receiving the biofuel, byproducts of the biofuel formation, and residual components of the first and second streams in the collection vessel; and withdrawing separately the biofuel from the collection vessel.