2.

Listing of feed materials

The main raw materials processed by the EU Biodiesel industry are rapeseed oil,
soybean oil, sunflower seed oil and palm oil in combination with methanol.
The Catalogue of the European Union for Feed Materials provides a common system in
the EU for the description and labeling of feed materials. The Catalogue includes, for
each feed material listed, the name of the product, an identification number, a
description of the feed material including - if appropriate - information on the
manufacturing process, and the particulars replacing the compulsory declaration for
the purpose of article 16 (1) (b) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2009.
Hereby listed the biodiesel related feed materials within Reg. 68/2013 (adapted for
vegetable origin):
Glycerine, crude
13.8.1
By-product obtained from:
the oleochemical process of oil/fat splitting to obtain
fatty
acids
and
sweet
water,
followed
by
concentration of the sweet water to get crude
glycerol or by transesterification (may contain up to
0,5 % methanol) of natural oils/fats to obtain fatty
acid methyl esters and sweet water, followed by
concentration of the sweet water to get crude
glycerol;
the production of biodiesel (methyl or ethyl esters of
fatty acids) by transesterification of oils and fats of
unspecified vegetable origin. Mineral and organic salts
might remain in the glycerine (up to 7,5 %).
May contain up to 0,5 % Methanol and up to
4 % of Matter Organic Non Glycerol (MONG)
comprising of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters, Fatty
Acid Ethyl Esters, Free Fatty Acids and
Glycerides;

Glycerine

13.8.2

saponifications of
oils/fats of
vegetable origin,
normally with alkali/alkaline earths, to obtain soaps.
May contain up to 50 ppm Nickel from hydrogenation.
Product obtained from:
the oleochemical process of (a) oil/fat splitting
followed by concentration of sweet waters and
refining by distillation (see part B, glossary of
processes, entry 20) or ion-exchange process; (b)
transesterification of natural oils/fats to obtain fatty
acid methyl esters and crude sweet water, followed
by concentration of the sweet water to get crude
glycerol and refining by distillation or ion-exchange
process;
the production of biodiesel (methyl or ethyl esters of
fatty acids) by transesterification of oils and fats of
unspecified vegetable origin with subsequent refining
of the glycerine. Minimum Glycerol content:
99 % of dry matter;
saponifications of
oils/fats of
vegetable origin,
normally with alkali/alkaline earths, to obtain soaps,
followed by refining of crude Glycerol and distillation.
May contain up to 50 ppm Nickel from hydrogenation.

Sector reference document on the manufacturing of safe feed materials from biodiesel
processing

2.1 Processing aids possibly used during treatment and processing

Water
Aluminium Sulphate
Citric acid
Ferric Chloride
Hydrochloric acid
Potassium hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Methoxide
Sulphuric acid
Phosphoric acid
Toluene Sulphonic acid
This list is non-exhaustive

Sector reference document on the manufacturing of safe feed materials from biodiesel
processing

3. Process Description of Biodiesel

Biodiesel consists of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters and is produced by the chemical reaction of Oils and
Fats with monoalcohols, typically methanol. A catalyst, usually sodium or potassium hydroxide
and/or methylate, is utilized to accelerate the formation of alkyl esters. This production process is
generally known as transesterification.

Vegetable Oils
Rapeseed Oil
Soybean Oil
Sunflower Seed Oil
Palm Oil

Alcohol
Methanol
Ethanol

Catalyst
Sodium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide

This section will describe the process of biodiesel production from vegetable oils where
the triglyceride oil is broken into alkyl (biodiesel) and glycerine by reaction with a
mono alcohol. The biodiesel and glycerine phases are then separated and purified.
Production processes contain the same stages, irrespective of the production scale,
although the differences in equipment may be significant.
3.1. Reception of Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oils delivered to biodiesel plants are partially refined vegetable oils. Predelivery (as per FEDIOL sector reference document) 1 vegetable oils undergo a number
of refining steps to remove various impurities, such as phosphatides, free fatty acids,
waxes, tocopherols or colorants, which could impede the biodiesel process reaction.
Most if not all feedstocks undergo some form of pre-treatment for impurities or free
fatty acid (FFA) reduction prior to being utilised as a raw material in the manufacture
of biodiesel.
On delivery, the partially refined vegetable oils are segregated to pre-processing
storage tanks. The safety and quality of the incoming material is assessed.
The content of free fatty acids, water and non-saponifiable substances are key
parameters in achieving high conversion efficiency in the transesterification reaction.
The results of the oils parameters will influence the quantity of raw material, alcohol
and catalyst ratio in the transesterification process.
3.2. Reaction Stage/ Transesterification:
The objective of the reaction stage is to convert the free fatty acid (FFA) fraction of the
feedstock into biodiesel. When the FFA content is high the reaction stage is usually
conducted in two steps: esterification and transesterification.

Fediol Sector Reference Document: appendix 4 to the European Code to good practice for the
manufacture of safe feed materials:

http://www.efisc.eu/data/1342020514Sector%20document%20oilseed%20and%20proteinmeal%20industry_version-2-21_16-02-11%20update%20hyperlinks%209_7.pdf

Sector reference document on the manufacturing of safe feed materials from biodiesel
processing

Following the pre-processing analysis of the incoming vegetable oil, the alcohol and
catalyst is mixed and sent to the reaction vessel where upon the vegetable oil is added
(Figure 1 Flow Chart). This stage is known as esterification and is a pretreatment step
to the transesterification which reduces the FFA content of the oil.
The complete transesterification process is closed to the atmosphere to prevent any
loss of alcohol. Excess alcohol is normally used to ensure total conversion of the oil to
its esters.
3.3. Separation Stage
Once the reaction is complete, two major products exist: glycerine and biodiesel. Each
has a substantial amount of the excess methanol that was used in the reaction. The
reacted mixture is sometimes neutralized at this step if needed. The glycerine phase is
much more dense than biodiesel phase and the two can be gravity separated with
glycerine simply drawn off the bottom of the settling vessel. In some cases, a
centrifuge is used to separate the two materials faster.
3.4. Acidulation and FFA separation
Typically, the glycerine after the separator is usually 50% glycerine, 40% methanol
and 10% soap and catalyst. The catalyst is neutralized and soaps are split to fatty
acids and salts. Free fatty acids and methanol are removed and recovered.
3.5. Glycerin Neutralization
The glycerine by-product contains unused catalyst and soaps that are neutralized with
an
acid
and
sent
to
storage
as
crude
glycerine.
In
some cases the salt formed during this phase is recovered for use as fertilizer. In most
cases the salt is left in the glycerine. Water and alcohol are removed to produce
approx. 80% pure glycerine that is ready to be sold as crude neutralised glycerine.
Refined Glycerine: Crude glycerine in some cases maybe further refined to
pharmaceutical or technical grades or feed grades by removing water and salts by
distillation.
3.6. Methyl Ester Wash
Once separated from the glycerine, the biodiesel is sometimes purified by washing
gently with warm water to remove residual catalyst or soaps, dried, and sent to
storage. In some processes this step is unnecessary. In some systems the biodiesel is
distilled. This step is optional and increases biodiesel purity.
3.7. Storage
Glycerine is stored in suitable storage tanks.
3.8. Transport
Transportation is required for the processed co-product glycerine. The transportation of
the co-product has to be in line with EU and National legalisations, existing
transportation codes, customer requirement and the requirements in this code Sector
reference document on the manufacturing of safe feed materials from biodiesel
processing.
Sector reference document on the manufacturing of safe feed materials from biodiesel
processing

6. Biodiesel Production Process Flow Chart

This chart describes a very general biodiesel process

Sector reference document on the manufacturing of safe feed materials from biodiesel
processing