Transesterification by Oleo
We use a specialised process called transesterification to recycle used cooking oil.
Transesterification is the process we use to convert waste cooking oils and fats into premium biodiesel. In the process, a glyceride reacts with an alcohol (methanol or ethanol) in the presence of a catalyst to form raw biodiesel and raw glycerol. These raw products then undergo a cleaning step to produce biodiesel. The purified glycerol can be used in the food, cosmetic and oleochemical industries, as well as a substrate for anaerobic digestion, which we supply through our sister company, ReFood.
Why Biodiesel?
Fossil fuel reserves are limited, CO2 emissions are too high, and Europe is dependent on increasingly expensive oil imports. Against this background, biodiesel is emerging as a reliable and sustainable energy source. Working alongside our sister company EcoMotion, we produce biodiesel of the very highest quality from used cooking oil and waste fats.
Our eight step process
ARRIVAL OF PRIME MATERIALS
The used cooking oil and fats arrive by tanker and are transferred to airtight tanks.
PRE-ESTERIFICATION
The molecules in the fats are stabilised to prevent them from reacting with each other.
TRANSESTERIFICATION
Using methanol and a chemical catalyst, the fats are converted into fatty acid methyl esters – in other words, biodiesel. During the reaction, glycerol is also produced.
DECANTING
The glycerol is separated out from the biodiesel through decanting.
CLEANING
The biodiesel undergoes several cleaning stages to remove any remaining glycerol.
DISTILLATION
To guarantee high purity levels, to European standards, the biodiesel is distilled. It is then stored in preparation for transport.
TREATMENT CO-PRODUCTS
The process generates around 10% co-product: mainly glycerol, which is reused; and methanol, which is recycled.
BIODIESEL DISPATCH
We ship out the biodiesel, ready to be used, starting the whole green-energy process again.