in the form of hydrogenated oils and fats (HVO and HEFA) are becoming increasingly important, but strict requirements must be met regarding the impurities in the oils and fats used, in order to minimize negative effects on downstream process steps. Pretreatment is therefore a crucial step in the efficient and cost-effective production of renewable fuels, and the processing of waste materials in particular requires the best possible treatment technology.
Centrifuge technology and process design optimized for waste oils with minimum oil losses
Customized solution for each type of raw material and impurity
Polyethylene separation via a filterless process
Used cooking oil (UCO) is the most important waste-based raw material for the production of renewable fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with the largest volumes being generated in industry and commerce. Relevant raw material parameters include its metal and phosphorus content, as even small amounts of these substances can negatively impact downstream processes. The quality of used cooking oil varies greatly, depending on both the origin of the oil and the method of collection. In general, a multi-stage purification process is required to prepare UCO for the production of renewable fuels, but high-quality oils require significantly less purification.
Animal fats are an increasingly important feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. The quality varies, depending on their origin, processing method, storage time, and season. High temperatures and long storage times promote chemical and biological decomposition of the fat, increasing both its sulfur and nitrogen content. Another problem faced in the processing of animal fats is the proportion of polymeric plastics such as polyethylene, which can come from the ear tags of livestock or other waste plastics. A special filterless process has been developed to process animal fats with a high polyethylene content.
The oil content of wastewater from palm oil production also serves as a valuable feedstock for sustainable fuel production. The combination of impurities, water, solar radiation, and long retention times in separator basins allows for chemical and biological decomposition of the oil, resulting in the formation of degradation products. Processing this to yield renewable fuels requires a special design and multi-stage treatment process to not only overcome the challenging properties of the oil, but also to achieve the required product specifications.
BDI’s Advanced PreTreatment process is designed to be modular so that it can be optimally adapted and expanded to meet raw material requirements based on the core modules PrePurification, washing, and adsorption, as well as other optional modules. Possible extensions include a second adsorption stage, polyethylene reduction using a special process patented by BDI, or the separating out or conversion of free fatty acids from the raw material.
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