| abstract |
The present invention relates to a method for producing Diesel grade fuel of plant origin by transesterifying a refined vegetable oil in a homogenous phase with a C1-C4 alkanol in the presence of an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent with a boiling point of 40-200° C. and a catalyst to form a first polar phase comprising glycerol by-product and a first apolar phase comprising transesterified fuel, non-transesterified vegetable oil, and aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, separating the first polar phase and the first apolar phase, and refining the fuel from the first apolar phase, wherein the C1-C4 alcohol is used in an amount selected from the group consisting of: a stoichiometric amount; and an excess not exceeding 30% of an stoichiometric amount, and the aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent is used in an amount of at least 0.2 parts by volume relative to the unit volume of the refined vegetable oil. |