In an economical and efficient process and apparatus for producing
biofuel from
waste oil, such as vegetable oils and animal fats,
waste oil is esterified with alcohols to produce
alcohol esters and the by-products of the
transesterification reaction are recovered. Static pressure may be used as well as
continuous flow-through reaction vessels and separation tanks without the need for additional pumps. There may also be specialized reaction tanks that have vertical rotating feed tubes having separators and inlet and outlet openings. The method and device achieves efficient production of
biofuel while employing reaction and mixing tanks having a limited size, which in turn permits a smaller
plant layout or “
footprint”. For example, the largest tank may be in a size of about 36 / 100,000 times the desired
plant output in gallons per year. The benefits of the process and apparatus include minimal space for a
plant; minimal on-site feedstock needed therefore minimal on-site storage is needed; minimal capital costs to build a plant e.g., reduction by about fifty to sixty five percent (50 to 65%); reduction in construction time from typically over one year to under three months in many plants; minimal energy usage, e.g., reduction by about sixty percent (60%); minimal labor costs due to the automatic
continuous flow; minimal pumps needed thereby reducing pump operation and maintenance costs; environmentally friendlier and
safer plant design; and due to smaller plant
footprint, lower
capital cost and minimal construction time enables
site selection much nearer to the
raw material supplies, thereby minimizing or even eliminating transportation costs for yellow
grease or
vegetable oil.