Method of making synthetic petroleum components

Abstract

Synthetic petroleum components are produced by electrolysis of soap and or salts made from materials comprising (a) vegetable oil and/or (b) animal fat and/or (c) esters and/or (d) organic acids by reacting these materials ((a) and/or (b) and/or (c) and/or (d) with any combination of materials (e) sodium Hydroxide(lye) and/or (f) soda ash (sodium carbonate) and/or (g) the potassium equivalents of the sodium compounds. Two possible products of the present invention are ethane (a possible replacement for methane in natural gas) and custom made synthetic lubricating oils made from algae in relatively pure form.

1 . A method of making a synthetic petroleum product by exposing to electrolysis, soap, made from the group consisting of (a) a vegetable oil (b), an animal fat, and (c) an ester and (d) an organic acid combined with materials from the group consisting of (e) sodium carbonate, (f) sodium hydroxide, and (g) any of the potasium equivalents of the sodium compounds. 
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , in which a prior step is used to make the organic acid by heating members of the group defined in  claim 1 , as (a) and (b) and (c) with sulfuric acid or another mineral acid. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , in which (d) acetic acid is reacted with sodium bicarbonate to make sodium acetate, before the electrolysis step, to produce ethane gas. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 3 , in which (d) acetic acid is electrolysed directly to produce ethane gas. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1 , in which a heater is used raise the temperature of the electrolysis step to near the boiling point. 
     
     
         6 . A Method as in  claim 1  in which the entire operation is controlled by a computer program using relays and pump assemblies and other control devices. 
     
     
         7 . A Method as in  claim 3  in which the entire operation is controlled by a computer program using relays and pump assemblies and other control devices.