In a process for purifying fatty acid alkyl esters, particularly methyl and ethyl esters, by means of vacuum distillation in a distillation column, water or steam is introduced into the distillation column and, during distillation, brought into contact with the fatty acid alkyl esters in the gas phase. This results in a significant reduction in the sulphur content and in the acid number of the fatty acid alkyl ester.

A transesterification catalyst that is heterogeneous and a method for preparing said transesterification catalyst are provided. The catalyst can be used in a variety of transesterification reactor configurations including CSTR (continuous stirred tank reactors), ebullated (or ebullating) beds or any other fluidized bed reactors, and PFR (plug flow, fixed bed reactors). The catalyst can be used for manufacturing commercial grade biodiesel, biolubricants and glycerin.

A system for processing a renewable bio-based material comprising: a reactor, a feedstock substantially renewable and comprising triglycerides and free fatty acids, with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor to form a treated oil; a heat exchanger for receiving the treated oil from the reactor and reducing its temperature to a predetermined temperature; a high-pressure separator followed by a low-pressure separator; and (i) a distillation unit for passing the treated oil through to form green diesel and an adsorption unit for passing the green diesel through; or (ii) at least one distillation column to separate the treated oil into at least one component and an adsorption column for passing the at least one component through; wherein the reactor comprises a cooling function for controlling the temperature of the reactor; wherein the cooling function is an internal cooling function comprising adding a cooling substance into the reactor.

The present invention relates to methods of producing industrial products from plant lipids, particularly from vegetative parts of plants. In particular, the present invention provides oil products such as biodiesel and synthetic diesel and processes for producing these, as well as plants having an increased level of one or more non-polar lipids such as triacylglycerols and an increased total non-polar lipid content. In one particular embodiment, the present invention relates to combinations of modifications in two or more of lipid handling enzymes, oil body proteins, decreased lipid catabolic enzymes and/or transcription factors regulating lipid biosynthesis to increase the level of one or more non-polar lipids and/or the total non-polar lipid content and/or mono-unsaturated fatty acid content in plants or any part thereof. In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for extracting lipids. In another embodiment, the lipid is converted to one or more hydrocarbon products in harvested plant vegetative parts to produce alkyl esters of the fatty acids which are suitable for use as a renewable biodiesel fuel.

Methods and compositions for producing fatty acid derivatives, for example, fatty esters, and commercial fuel compositions comprising fatty acid derivatives are described.

Processes for converting lignocellulose to feedstock and downstream products are disclosed. The processes may include acid treatment of lignocellulose to produce a fermentation feedstock. In various instances, the processes include recovery or recycling of acid, such as recovery of hydrochloric acid from concentrated and/or dilute streams. Downstream products may include acrylic acid-based products such as diapers, paper and paper-based products, ethanol, biofuels such as biodiesel and fuel additives, and detergents.

In accordance with the present subject matter there is provided a process for producing mono-, di- and triesters of glycerol over a catalyst composition. The catalyst composition including a base catalyst and a support material based on phyllosilicates of montmorillonite structure and the process for preparing the catalyst composition is also described.

Methods for production of multiple biofuels through thermal fractionation of biomass feedstocks are described. The products of said methods are also described.

The present invention relates to methods of processing lignocellulosic material to obtain hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose and other high-value products such as asphalt and bio oils. Also provided are hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose, and other high-value products such as asphalt and bio oils.

A method of producing biodiesel includes reacting at least one of brown grease and FOG with at least one enzyme, alcohol, and an aqueous solution to produce a reacted feedstock and producing biodiesel from the reacted feedstock, the biodiesel having a composition of sulfur less than 15 ppm.