Biodiesel

Biodiesel from Renewable

Resources

The ‘Kyoto Protocol’ – which is the United Nations frame- mineral diesel or as a pure product. In either case fuel
work convention on climatic change – requires the intro- quality requirements are critical and expectations are rising.
duction of biofuels into the transport fuel market in order Lurgi, a world-leader in the field of oleochemicals, is able
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. to provide the industry with a multi-purpose technology able
to process in principle most vegetable and animal oils and
The ’EU Biofuels Regulation’ urges the member states to fats to biodiesel.
ensure the increase of the market share of biofuels in the Lurgi has been building biodiesel (methyl ester) plants
transport fuel market from 2 % in 2005 to 5.75 % in 2010. for over 15 years and is the marketleader in designing
Future shortage in petroleum supply and surging prices for plants to meet the industrial demand for higher capacities,
petroleum based fuels will significantly increase the shift improved economy and better quality – total capacity of
towards the alternative fuels sector. plants, under design, construction and operation amounts
Biodiesel has become a vital part of our energy supply and to approx. 8 million tons per year.
may be used either as a fuel additive mixed in any ratio with

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 Advantages of Biodiesel
I Bio-degradable

I Nearly closed CO2 loop

I Minimum greenhouse gas emissions

I Sulfur-free

I Less dependance on fuels from mineral oils

I Non-toxic

I Reduction of particulates (smoke) emission

by approx. 50 %
I Biodiesel does not contain benzene or other aromatics

I Higher engine efficiency and durability

I Improvement of ignition and lubricity

I Safest diesel fuel to store and handle (i.e. flashpoint

biodiesel at 150° C is higher than petrol diesel at 70° C)

Block Flow Diagram Biodiesel Produktion

Oil and Fats

Oil Pretreatment

Methanol +
Catalyst Glycerin
Transesterification
Treatment

Biodiesel Glycerin Water

Washing & Drying Evaporation

Glycerin Distillation
and Bleaching

Biodiesel ready Crude Glycerin Glycerin in pharmaceutical

for use >80 % conc. quality >99.5 % conc.

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 Reactor 1 Reactor 2

Transesterification
Oil Biodiesel

Glycerin Wash
Methanol Cross-Flow Column
(Patented)

Methanol
Catalyst Recovery Closed Washwater Loop

Glycerin Water
Evaporation
Glycerin Water
Crude Glycerin

Transesterification Process
Principle of Process Yields
Transesterification is based on the chemical reaction of 1,000 kg of dried, degummed and deacidified rapeseed oil
triglycerides with methanol to form methyl esters and glyc- will give:
erin in the presence of an alkaline catalyst. This reaction is I Biodiesel: approx. 1,000 kg
effected in a two-stage mixer-settler unit. Transesterification I Crude glycerin: approx. 125 kg
takes place in the mixing section, while the subsequent I Pharmaceutical-grade glycerin: approx. 90 kg
settling section allows for the separation of methyl esters as I Technical-grade glycerin: approx. 5 kg
the light phase from glycerin water as the heavy phase. A
subsequent countercurrent washing step for the methyl ester Final Products
removes minute by-product components and gives a bio- I Biodiesel: E DIN 51606 / EN 14214

diesel “ready for use” after the final drying step.The surplus I Crude glycerin: British Standard 2621

methanol contained in the glycerin water is removed in a I Pharmaceutical-grade glycerin: EU Pharmacopoeia 99.7

rectification column, which yields methanol in a condition

and purity ready for use as a recycle stream to the process. Consumption figures
For further glycerin water purification additional steps of The consumption figures – without glycerin
chemical treatment, evaporation, distillation and bleaching distillation and bleaching – stated below are valid for the
may follow optionally. production of 1 ton of rapeseed methyl ester at continuous
operation and nominal capacity.
Feedstock I Steam consumption: approx. 320 kg
In principle most edible oils and fats – vegetable and I Cooling water consumption:

animal – can be transesterified. For fuel-specific properties, ( t = 10 °C) approx. 25 m3

pretreated oils from rape, but also alternative feedstocks I Electrical energy: approx. 12 kWh
like soya and sunflower seeds are used in Europe. Pretreat- I Methanol: approx. 96 kg
ment and/or esterification as optional process steps are I Catalyst: approx. 5 kg
required if the feedstock quality does not meet the follow- (Na-Methylate 100 %)
ing specification: I Hydrochloric acid (37 %): approx. 10 kg
FFA content max. 0.1 % I Caustic soda (50 %): approx. 1.5 kg
Water content max. 0.1 % I Nitrogen: approx. 1 Nm3
Unsaponifiables max. 0.8 % I Process water: approx. 200 kg
Phosphorus content max. 10 ppm

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 to Vacuum

Cooler
Cold Condensation

Cooler
Hot Condensation Distillate II

to Vacuum

Drier/
Distillation Still
Degasser Heat Exchanger

Residue Cooler
Heater

Decanter
Salt
Distillate I Crude Glycerin

Glycerin Refining
Pharmaceutical Glycerin Production
Pharmaceutical Glycerin Production apart from the biodiesel
process Lurgi offers its clients the proven glycerin distillation
technology. Crude glycerin of approx. 80-85 % is processed
into a pharmaceutical grade product with a glycerin concen-
tration of > 99.5 %. Lurgi offers this process concept on the
basis of several decades of technological leadership. Innova-
tive design features have been added to optimize the tech-
nical and economical plant performance for the benefit of
the owners”

Glycerin Distillation

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 Biodiesel Plant 2 x 100,000 t/d,
NEW 1 and NEW 2, Marl, Germany

Special Features of
Lurgi‘s Biodiesel Technology Lurgi‘s Expertise
I Fully automatic continuous transesterification process I Basic Engineering
I High quality biodiesel and glycerin I Detail Engineering
I Na-Methylate as catalyst I Procurement and supply
I Solutions for various feedstock I Construction and construction supervision
I Operation at atmospheric pressure and low temperature I Commissioning and start-up
(appr. 60 °C) I Single-line responsibility
I Low catalyst consumption I Fast-track realization
I Highly efficient process – 1 kg of raw material yields I Own R&D facilities
1 kg of biodiesel I Plant lifecycle partnership between Lurgi
I Environmentally friendly process as technology licensor and client
I Open steel structure (investor or owner of the plant)
I Compact layout
I Clear phase separation by special gravity process
(no centrifuges required)
I Easy operation
I Low operating and maintenance cost
I Lurgi offers biodiesel plants with capacities from
20,000–250,000 tons per year, and more
I Optional pharmaceutical-grade glycerin add on

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References
Germany‘s largest Biodiesel Plants
Plants with capacities of 250,000 t/y have built and are
successfully operated by the clients. Many of these plants
are being built by Lurgi as lump sum turnkey projects under
single-line responsibility. Lurgi is presently implementing
biodiesel plants worldwide with feedstocks ranging from
rapeseed, soya, sunflower, palm and other oils.

Biodiesel and glycerin plants with a total capacity of nearly

8 million tons per year have been designed and realized or
are projected by Lurgi worldwide.
Transportation of pre-installed Biodiesel plant, Australia
Capacity: 100,000 t/y

Biodiesel plant Malchin, Germany Biodiesel plant Marl, Germany

Capacity: 50,000 t/y Capacity: 100,000 t/y

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Lurgi is a leading technology company operating worldwide
in the fields of process engineering and plant contracting.
The strength of Lurgi lies in innovative technologies of the
future focusing on customized solutions for growth markets.
The technological leadership is based on proprietary tech-
nologies and exclusively licensed technologies in the areas
gas-to-chemical products via synthetic gas or methanol and
synthetic fuels, petrochemicals, refinery technology and poly-
mer industry as well as renewable resources/food.

Lurgi is a member of the Air Liquide Group.

301e/10.08/10

Lurgi GmbH
Lurgiallee 5 · D-60295 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 (0) 69 5808-0 · Fax: +49 (0) 69 5808-3888
E-Mail: [email protected] · Internet: www.lurgi.com