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Abstract

A process for producing monoesters and glycerol from triglycerides and monohydric alcohols by transesterification in the presence of phase-transfer catalysts and base initiators, produced in a batch or continuous mode. Reaction mixtures comprising triglycerides such as vegetable triglycerides, monohydric alcohols such as methanol or ethanol, base initiators such as alkali metal hydroxides or carbonates and phase-transfer catalysts such as quaternary ammonium or quaternary phosphonium salts for performing transesterification reactions. The reaction product comprises a mixture of monoesters and glycerol. The monoesters produced are useful as fuels, cleaning solvents and other industrial applications. For example, fatty acid methyl esters are produced by the transesterification reaction between fatty vegetable triglycerides and methanol in the presence of catalytic quantities of both methyl tricaprylyl ammonium chloride and sodium hydroxide at a temperature of about 70° C.

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First Claim