Hydrocarbon based raw materials from free fatty acids, lipids and soaps

Soaps, lipids as well as lipid related compounds such as free fatty acids (FFA) can be converted into hydrocarbons. FFA and soaps are process byproducts of edible oils or plant oils from alkaline transesterification in biodiesel production.

The process is conducted as follows: Substrates are continuously fed into the reactor. Decarboxylation takes place in the presence of sodium at T = 400 °C. Hydrocarbons formed are condensed outside the reactor. By rectification of the raw material 70% hydrocarbon based diesel as well as 20% gasoline and 10% bottom product are collected.

As a result GC-patterns of the products show the homologous series of alkanes and alkenes. The range of hydrocarbons is of interest both for fuels as well as renewable raw materials for anionic detergents. The parameters of the diesel fraction are in accordance with DIN 590. The cold flow plugging point (-18°C) is significantly higher in comparison to biodiesel (app. -2°C) from animal fat. Organic wastes to fuels and renewable raw materials for the chemical industry are of ecological and economical interest.