Process for Removing Water and Water Soluble Contaminants From Biofuels

Abstract

Water may be removed from a biofuel or biofuel intermediate by using a demulsifier. The demulsifier includes the product of oxyalkylating a resin prepared from a formulation including a phenol and a compound selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde, a diamine a polyamine and mixtures thereof. The demulsifier may also be used with admixtures of biofuels, biofuel intermediates, or biofuel feedstocks with conventional hydrocarbons.

1 . A process for removing water from a biofuel, biofuel intermediate, or biofuel comprising admixing the biofuel or biofuel intermediate with a demulsifier wherein the demulsifier comprises the product of oxyalkylating a resin prepared from a formulation comprising a phenol and a compound selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde, a diamine a polyamine and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the biofuel or biofuel intermediate is admixed with a conventional hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the biofuel is a biodiesel. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the phenol has the general formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbons and x has a value of from o to 2. 
       
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein the phenol is selected from the group consisting of butyl phenol, amyl phenol, octyl phenol, nonyl phenol, dinonyl phenol, dodecyl phenol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the aldehyde has a general formula of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbons. 
       
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  wherein the aldehyde is selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and propionaldehyde. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the diamine or polyamine has the general formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         a and b are integers having a value of from 1 to about 4 and may be the same or different, and 
         y is an integer having a value of from 0 to about 10. 
       
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the diamine is ethylene diamine. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the resin has a molecular weight (M n ) of from about 2,000 to about 10,000. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  wherein the resin has a molecular weight (M n ) of from about 2,500 to about 8,000. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the resin is prepared in a molar ratio of phenol to (aldehyde and/or diamine and/or polyamine) [phenol:(aldehyde and/or diamine and/or polyamine)] of from 0.8:1 to 1:0.8. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the molar ratio of phenol to (aldehyde and/or diamine and/or polyamine) [phenol:(aldehyde and/or diamine and/or polyamine)] is about 1:1 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the oxyalkylation of the resin is performed using an alkylene oxide having from 2 to 8 carbons. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the alkylene oxide is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the alkylene oxide used is from about 0.5 to about 50 moles of alkylene oxide per each mole of phenolic oxygen in the resin. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the alkylene oxide used is from about 2 to about 30 moles of alkylene oxide per each mole of phenolic oxygen in the resin. 
     
     
         18 . A demulsifier useful for removing water and water soluble contaminants from bio-fuels or biofuel intermediates comprising the product of oxyalkylating a resin prepared from a formulation comprising a phenol and a compound selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde, a diamine, a polyamine and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A biofuel prepared using a process comprising removing water and water soluble contaminants from the biofuel using a demulsifier, the demulsifier comprising the product of oxyalkylating a resin prepared from a formulation comprising a phenol and a compound selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde, a diamine, a polyamine and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The biofuel of  claim 19  further comprising a conventional hydrocarbon.