PROCESS
advantageous and offers a reprieve for biodiesel producers whose sustainability shifts and destabilizes with the changing value of tax credits and RIN prices. Pretreatment of feedstock is required to remove impurities that may be harmful to the reaction kinetics (in this case the enzymes) and/ or prohibit compliance with ASTM D6751 standards. The use of low-quality feedstocks has been problematic for traditional processes and catalysts, even after all other impurities have been neutralized, due to their high FFA content. A major advantage of enzymes is their ability to easily convert FFA to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) at temperatures around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and with less methanol. The appropriate pretreatment method depends on the feedstock, and might include water washes and settling, neutralization of pH, or filtration. Sulfur is one of the more troublesome contaminants in lowquality feedstocks, but research and development of technologies including filtration and resins for sulfur reduction to 15 ppm in either feedstock or
REACTION BENEFITS: A major advantage of enzymes is their ability to easily convert FFA to fatty acid methyl esters at temperatures around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and with less methanol.
The RIN Market Has Changed,
Have You?
“We see nothing but strong demand for Genscape RINs, even at premium prices. Genscape RINs are the safest, highest value in the industry.”
Genscape’s RIN Integrity Network™ is the industry’s most comprehensive, cost-effective and low-maintenance Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) for RIN certification. Find out how being part of a one-of-a-kind dashboard for RIN marketing and procurement can open new doors for your business.
Robert C. Wright, President of Murex LLC
EXPERT CONSULTATION 1-866-292-8060 www.genscape.com/QAP-Solutions
“Once we joined Genscape, we began receiving unsolicited calls from large OPs wanting to buy our RINs.” Blake, Newport Biodiesel
FEEDSTOCK OPTIONS: The flexibility of enzymatic processing allows a variety of feedstocks to be used. Here Viesel Fuel shows samples of biodiesel from used cooking oil (left), distillers corn oil (middle) and brown grease (right).
“Genscape has eliminated months of compliance start up delays & headaches, letting us focus on production.” Brandon Thurman, Pleasant Valley Biofuels
JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2014
BIODIESEL MAGAZINE
35