Biodiesel

Biodiesel

Choosing the right technology partner for biodiesel processing is critical to meet the challenges of feedstock treatment, yields, quality and consumptions of chemicals & utilities.

DVC Process Technologists offers the best solutions for commercial viability in the processing of the most challenging feedstocks, through both chemicals as well as enzymatic routes over various capacities.

The biodiesel production usually involves the following steps :

1. Feedstock Pre-treatment

Most Feedstocks used in Biodiesel production are of low grade and contain impurities that reduce the catalyst efficiency in trans esterification and hence have to be pretreated.

2. Transesterification and/or Acid Esterification

This is the main reaction in biodiesel production which involves the conversion of the triglycerides and/or fatty acids into methyl esters. The conversion costs depend on yields, feedstock quality, choice of catalyst (Sodium Methoxide, Sulphuric acid or Enzyme), process routes, energy consumptions, etc.

3. Glycerine Recovery

The glycerine obtained from biodiesel production must be further purified, concentrated & distilled to get technical grade or pharmaceutical grade of glycerine.

4. Methanol Recovery

The excess methanol from the various streams is recovered to be re-used again for the transesterification process.

5. Biodiesel Purification.

Biodiesel Purification involves washing of the methyl ester phase and drying. For higher quality of biodiesel, methyl ester distillation may also be necessary.