In many countries, blending biodiesel with fossil diesel is mandatory. The green fuel is biodegradable, non-toxic and poses no threat to drinking water. As a result, fewer greenhouse gases and soot are emitted, which significantly improves the energy balance. In addition, biodiesel is not a hazardous material, which makes it easier to transport, store and handle. Biodiesel is characterized by excellent lubricity and is also gentle on the vehicle engine.

The key benefits of biodiesel at a glance

• Reduced CO₂ emissions
• Lower soot amounts in exhaust gas
• Biodiesel is not a hazardous material
• Biodiesel is biodegradable

Our product portfolio is tailored to the special requirements of the manufacture and use of modern, high-tech fuel. We offer:

• Alkoxides as catalysts for efficient transesterification
• Anti-foaming agents for effective use of biodiesel blends
• Flow improvers for outstanding low-temperature properties in all regions in all seasons
• Special polyamide 12 for special, durable automotive components
• Process engineering consulting

Due to their molecular structure, vegetable oils are not suitable for use as fuel in conventional diesel engines. Vegetable and animal fats consist of triglycerides, that is, the combination of the trivalent alcohol glycerol with three fatty acids. If the glycerol is replaced with methanol, the viscous vegetable oil is transformed into a fuel with excellent flow characteristics: biodiesel.

And all it takes is a simple chemical reaction called transesterification, which involves mixing methanol with a small quantity of an alkaline catalyst. The most effective catalysts are sodium methylate in the form of a 30% solution in methanol (NM 30) and potassium methylate in the form of a 32% solution in methanol (KM 32), both from Evonik.

In addition to the main product, biodiesel, transesterification also yields glycerol as a valuable by-product.

For many years our analytical labs have been working on the alkoxide-catalyzed transesterification process and the quality characteristics of the target product biodiesel. In addition to production-related analysis, we also examine your raw materials and end products. Based on the results of our analytical tests, you benefit from our consulting competency, for example, through avoiding yield losses or irregularities in the production process. Please contact us for further information!

Know-how for greater plant efficiency

Our work focuses on process optimization to provide economic benefits to the biodiesel industry. The goal is always to make the plants more cost-efficient and more effective. The topics range from the use of new oils and the optimization of individual reaction and separation stages in existing biodiesel procedures to how capacity expansions of 20 to 30 percent can be achieved cost-effectively through elimination of bottlenecks in the existing plants. 

In these projects, we support you with interdisciplinary teams from development of the solution through preselection and testing in our labs or technical centers and finally, to successful large-scale implementation.

International experience

The core competency in the engineering sector is in the planning and construction of production plants - domestically and internationally. In the biodiesel area, we focus on optimization measures such as the elimination of bottlenecks. Our range of services covers.

• Project management including quality, cost, and schedule controlling
• Planning services such as potential analyses, basic and detailed planning
• Specialist services from apparatus technology to production logistics
• Construction and assembly management
• And finally, support with commissioning and training of your employees

These services are provided exclusively by competent and experienced engineers, the key reason to ensure that the project goals can be achieved to your fullest satisfaction.