Biodiesel Co-Production

The food sector considers waste oils and fats as a byproduct. However, in the food industry, these waste products are generated in serious quantities and thus, there is a need to analyze their economic value. With this, an environmental issue is being raised too. In dealing with both sides of this challenge, we offer advanced biodiesel co-production that serves to transform wastes into valuable assets. As a result, high-quality biodiesel can be produced and all economic and environmental returns can be maximized for the food sector. Our company is dedicated to focusing on the food industry to strengthen their economic and environmental biodiesel co-production benefits. Dialogue of the service showcases benefits of enzymatic technology.

Fig 1. Valorisation of food waste to biofuel (Sanjib K.K., 2014)

Food industry practitioners looking for sustainable solutions to manage waste oils and fats need look no further than our biodiesel co-production service. Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with a biodiesel co-production facility that employs lipase catalyzed transesterification. Used cooking oils (UCOs) and animal fats represent diverse waste lipid feedstocks and are transformed to biodiesel that complies with EN14214 standards through an integrated approach. Supporting the idea of sustainability and profitability, high value co-products are developed from the glycerin-rich faction of the process stream.

Technical Principles

Our core technology is based on the lipase-catalyzed transesterification reaction. This reaction involves triglycerides (fats and oil) and an alcohol, usually methanol. A lipase is an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction. Compared to traditional chemical catalysis, enzymatic catalysis has a milder (lower temperature and pressure) requirement. Each lipase has a specific action on the ester bonds of the triglycerides and yields FAME (biodiesel) and glycerol (the main co-product). Enzymatic specificity also prevents many side reactions like saponification that are more prevalent with high free fatty acids (FFA) feedstocks common in the food industry.

Technical Features

• Flexibility of Feedstock: Novozymes is able to utilize a diverse range of waste fats and oils, including those with high FFA content, with no or little pretreatment.
• Biodiesel Quality: The biodiesel meets the criteria outlined in EN14214 ensuring compatibility and performance.
• Co-products Purity: Further processing of the high purity glycerol stream will increase the value of the co-products due to simpler processing steps.
• Reaction Conditions: Lower temperature and pressure requirements results in lower energy consumption and increased safety.
• Minimizing Water Waste: Alleviates the creation of soaps and contaminants, resulting in less waste water and a cleaner overall process.
• Technology for Reusability of Enzymes for Processes: The technology for immobilized enzymes aids in enzyme retrieval and reuse system, making the process more economical.

Technical Classification

Our service can be classified based on:

• Feedstock Type: Primarily focusing on second-generation feedstocks such as used cooking oils, animal fats, and other food processing lipid wastes.
• Catalysis Method: Exclusively employing enzymatic (lipase-based) catalysis.
• Process Mode: Offering options for batch or continuous processing systems, adaptable to the scale of feedstock availability.
• Co-product Focus: Tailored strategies for valorizing glycerol into various grades (technical, pharmaceutical) and exploring other potential co-products.

Application Areas

This service fits best for:

• Restaurants and fast food chains that produce used cooking oils.
• Food plants that extract fatty wastes from process effluents.
• Farms and meat processors with residues of animal fats.
• Municipal and private companies that collect and process lipid organic wastes.
• Sustainability-focused organizations and circular economy projects.

Environmental Benefits

• Reduction of Greenhouse Gases: When produced from waste oils, biodiesel cuts lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to fossil diesel by more than 80% in most cases.
• Waste Valorization: Terminates inappropriate disposal methods of certain wastes through offering intelligent solutions and helps in avoiding soil and water pollution.
• Circular Economy: Responsible for creating new chemicals and fuels from wastes, therefore, acts according to the circular economy models.
• Improved Air Quality: The burning of biodiesel results in lower emissions of particulate matter, sulfur oxides, and other unburned hydrocarbon gases.
• Reduced Reliance on Fossil Fuels: Contributes towards better diversification of sources and decrease reliance on renewable fossil resources.

Our Services

As your dedicated partner in sustainable waste valorization, we provide a suite of services designed to guide you from initial assessment to operational excellence. Our team works closely with you to deliver tailored solutions that maximize both environmental and economic returns. The services we can provide include:

• Feedstock Analysis and Feasibility Studies: Comprehensive evaluation of your waste oil/fat streams to determine suitability for enzymatic biodiesel production and co-product potential. This includes detailed chemical characterization and process viability assessment.
• Customized Process Design and Engineering: Development of tailored enzymatic transesterification plant designs optimized for your specific feedstock characteristics, desired output, and site conditions, ensuring compliance with EN14214 standards.
• Pilot Plant Testing and Validation: Opportunity to validate the process with your specific feedstock at a pilot scale, refining parameters and confirming product quality and co-product yields before full-scale implementation.

• Co-product Development and Market Access Assistance: Specialized expertise in identifying and developing high-value applications for the glycerol and other potential co-products, including strategies for purification and market entry.
• Lifecycle Assessment and Environmental Impact Reporting: Conducting thorough environmental assessments to quantify the benefits of the implemented solution, aiding in sustainability reporting and regulatory compliance.

Company Service Advantages

Contact Us

Our biodiesel co-production service offers a technologically advanced, economically attractive, and environmentally responsible solution for managing food industry waste oils and fats. By converting these wastes into EN14214 standard biodiesel and developing high-value co-products through efficient enzymatic processes, we empower our clients to achieve their sustainability goals while unlocking new revenue streams. Partner with us to transform your waste challenges into a circular economy success story.

How to Place an Order

Our products and services are for research use only and cannot be used for any clinical purposes.