Low Quality Feedstocks and Enzymatic Biodiesel Rachel Burton, Novozymes Biodiesel Feedstock Workshop Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne,IL October 26th, 2015
Low Quality Feedstocks and Enzymatic BiodieselRachel Burton, Novozymes
Biodiesel Feedstock Workshop
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne,IL
October 26th, 2015
1969: Establishment of Sales Office in NY
1978: Establishment of production facility, Franklinton, NC
1992: Establishment of R&D site, Davis, CA
1995: Establishment of R&D, Franklinton, NC
2001-04: Establishment of the microorganisms business Salem, VA
2009: Establishment of a production facility, Blair, NE
Novozymes’ largest enzyme plant in North America – Franklinton, NC
Enzymatic Biodiesel COMMERCIAL LAUNCH NOVOZYMES EVERSA®
• Research program on biodiesel initiated in 2008
• Pilot operations tested and optimized from 2010 - 2013
• Formal commercial launch in 2014
• Plants are running … 2 in USA, 2 in Brazil, 1 in China
• Several ramping up … 3 in USA, 2 in China, 2 in SE Asia, 2 in Europe, 1 in Brazil
4
Benefits of enzymatic biodiesel
Feedstock flexibility
Lower methanol consumption
Reduced energy
Higher purity glycerin
Reduced harsh chemicals
Yield opportunity
Feedstocks
Used cooking oil
Distillers’ corn oil
Animal fats
Fatty acid distillates
Brown grease
Crude palm oil
Enzymatic Biodiesel Handbook
http://novozymes.com/en/solutions/bioenergy/enzymatic-
biodiesel/Pages/enzymatic-biodiesel-handbook.aspx
Feedstocks
Used cooking oil
Distillers’ corn oil
Animal fats
Fatty acid distillates
Brown grease
Crude palm oil
Additional 1.2 million tons of high FFA material available for utilization
Process overview
Eversa® Transform
Crude
Biodiesel
Enzyme
Glycerin(MeOH, Water)
High FFA Material Converts Quickly
GC=0.101
GC = 0.116
0
3
6
9
0 5 10 15 20Bo
un
d G
lyc
eri
n b
y Q
TA
Reaction Time (hrs)
50/50 Brown Grease/UCO UCO
Conversion of
BG Blend vs. UCO
Data courtesy: Viesel, Inc.
Glycerin Quality Improvement
Chemical Eversa Transform®
10
Biodiesel/glycerol phase separation
Acidulation / FFA removal
Distillation
Decolorization
Biodiesel/glycerol phase separation
Drying Drying
Decolorization
Acidulation / FFA removal
Distillation
>95% glycerol
>97% glycerol
> 99% glycerol
Enzymatic Biodiesel Handbook
http://novozymes.com/en/solutions/bioenergy/enzymatic-
biodiesel/Pages/enzymatic-biodiesel-handbook.aspx
Process Trend
Enzymes…
are proteins that act as catalysts
are highly specific
are renewable and biodegradable
operate under mild process conditions
can replace chemicals in many areas of industrial production
Polishing Methods
Standard
• One-pot method (caustic wash without phase
separation)
In Development
• One-pot hybrid (modified wash with reduced caustic)
• Resin process
• Enzyme esterification
Other options
• Blending
• Modified glycerol polish