Technology
The conventional biodiesel processes utilize chemistry that is over 100 years old. Since the chemistry is simple, producers have made biodiesel in batches and some consumers have created methyl ester biodiesel in their bathtub. The problem with the simplicity of the chemistry is that many companies have not focused on the process engineering necessary to offer consistent product quality and economically feasibility in commercial scale applications.
Due to varying free fatty acid (FFA) levels in multiple feedstocks like tallow, yellow grease, and poultry fat, conventional transesterification does not produce the yields necessary for competitive process economics. This inefficiency can be attributed to an ineffective pre-treatment process to reduce the FFA level, as well as product quality issues incurred during the water wash step of conventional transesterification and use of a “batch process” that processes fuel in small units.
In 2000, Nova’s wholly owned subsidiary, Biosource, invented a proprietary patented process technology that addressed many of the existing bottlenecks in the contemporary biodiesel production technologies:
| Nova’s Innovations: |
Benefits:
|
| 1) Multi-Feedstock Capabilities |
1) Lower cost feedstock |
| 2) Continuous Process vs. batch processing |
2) Consistent product quality |
| 3) Elimination of Water Wash Step |
3) Less waste streams / Improved product quality |
| 4) High Quality Glycerin Production |
4) Increased Revenue Streams |
| 5) Continual Energy Recovery |
5) Lower Production Costs |
| 6) Turn Key construction with National Builders |
6) Improved Time to Market / Quality assurances |
Nova’s proprietary technology has the ability to efficiently process over 25 different feedstock sources with no refinery modification, including low cost feedstocks with FFA levels of up to 60%. Nova’s technology replaces the inefficient batch process with a continuous process that allows economies of scale. It also completely eliminates the water wash step used in conventional processes. The effective recovery and utilization of waste heat, which are typically lost in the water wash process, provides for Nova’s plant heat inputs and makes our refineries nearly energy self-sufficient. Nova’s proprietary process is also completely closed loop, allowing the recovery, and treatment of all vapors and condensable products, which ensure odor control and emissions to comply with air quality standards and permit limits.
The limited quantity of total global feedstock supply and the need to be price competitive with petrodiesel makes Nova’s process technology desirable and unique when compared to conventional processes such as the simple base catalyzed transesterification. Because feedstock makes up the largest portion of biodiesel production costs, utilizing a multitude of feedstock sources protects the producer from price spikes due to increased demand for any one particular feedstock source. In addition, the utilization of lower cost feedstock sources, such as yellow grease, tallow, and poultry fat, can significantly reduce expenses and increase profitability.
Click on the link below to see an analysis of our Multi-feedstock competitive advantage