Biodiesel pretreatment systems
Driven by sustainability concerns, the demand for biofuels from plant and animal fats and oils increases every year. Effective pre-treatment systems are critical for ensuring reliable production of biofuels. Alfa Laval is a leading partner to biofuel producers all around the world, and has decades of experience supporting pre-treatment processes for any type of raw material. We can provide complete lines that include everything necessary for pre-treatment for biodiesel production.
Reliable pre-treatment systems for reliable downstream FAME production
- The market’s most complete supplier of biofuel pre-treatment lines, based on quality, reliable equipment
- Consultation from leading experts, including enzymatic processing, to help you design and optimize your biodiesel pret-reatment process line
- Low energy consumption
- A truly global service network with a comprehensive offering that covers the entire lifecycle of your biodiesel production equipment
- Deep removal of phosphorous and free fatty acids, for the highest biodiesel quality and minimum catalyst consumption
Biodiesel pre-treatment provides the feedstock for a downstream fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) biodiesel unit. FAME catalysts for this transesterification reaction are of the methylate type, which form a catalytically inactive soap in contact with free fatty acids. Minimizing free fatty acids, typically in the range of 0.1-0.2% by weight, is therefore necessary. The pre-treatment process for biodiesel production most often consists of a neutralization section, which for soybean oil can be supplemented by enzymatic degumming, or alternatively, a steam stripper for the physical removal of free fatty acids. Contact us today to learn how we can support your operation.
How the pretreatment process supports biodiesel production
Pretreatment ensures your feedstock meets the quality requirements for efficient biodiesel production. The process often begins with pre-clarification, which removes fine solids from the oil before chemical or a physical refining.
Physical refining removes compounds containing phosphorous (gums) from the oil through degumming, followed by washing to remove phosphorous, soaps and other impurities.
Deacidification then reduces free fatty acids (FFAs) in the pretreated oil to target levels. These FFAs, by-products of physical refining, can be sold or converted into biodiesel through esterification, using sulphuric acid as a catalyst, for example.
Enzymes, especially in soybean oil processing, further reduce phosphorus, minimize oil losses, and increase overall oil quality and yield.
In chemical refining, caustic soda neutralizes FFAs, phosphorus, and other impurities, creating soapstock. The soapstock is then removed in two stages, with the final water wash ensuring lowest possible contaminant levels.
Beyond biodiesel: Unlocking new revenue streams
Alfa Laval offers solutions to extract high-value nutrients, such as vitamin E, from vegetable oils, generating new revenue streams from edible oil refining. The Alfa Laval TocoBoost, for instance, is an add-on to our deodorization systems, enabling refinery owners and operators to extract high-value nutrients from soy, palm and other plant-based oils. Turn by-products into profitable revenue streams.
Watch the video to learn more.
