Abstract: Systems and processes for commercial production of fatty acid alkyl esters for fuel applications are disclosed, wherein the fatty acid alkyl esters are produced from a lipid feedstock comprising varying component concentrations. The components may include free fatty acids, glycerides, and physical and chemical contaminants. An operator or control system may select a process route to optimize a process parameter such as a throughput of the system based on the concentration of the components. The selected process route may include transesterification and/or an esterification processes, and preliminary processes, such as pre-treatment processes, fatty-acid stripping processes, and a fatty acid distillation processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for the production of improved biodiesel fuel from feedstocks containing both fatty acids and glycerides by reactive distillation. Specifically, in one embodiment, the present invention relates to the production of improved biodiesel fuels meeting or exceeding the ASTM D6751-10 Specification.