OFI June 2019

OILS & FATS INTERNATIONAL

J U N E 2019

â–ª

V O L 35 N O 5

BLEACHING EARTHS Customising new solutions WWW.OFIMAGAZINE.COM Cover June 197.indd 1

05/06/2019 15:12:04

We team up with the most demanding Oils & Fats processors in the world COMPLETE PREPARATION PLANTS Innovative proprietary Technologies based on the experience of • 220+ Preparation Plants • 3,000+ Rosedowns Presses

COMPLETE EXTRACTION PLANTS Reliable and unmatched Technologies based on the experience of • 900+ Extractors • 900+ Desolventiser Toasters (Dryer Coolers) • 700+ Distillations & Solvent Recovery Sections

COMPLETE REFINING PLANTS State-of-the-Art refining Technologies based on the experience of • 700+ Oil pretreatment Processes • 900+ Bleaching Processes • 1,400 + Deodorizing Processes

COMPLETE FAT MODIFICATION PLANTS High performance Technologies based on the experience of : • 100+ Full Hydrogenation Processes • 80+ Interesterification Processes • 400+ Fractionation Processes

Desmet Ba ll delivered th estra designed and e largest ex tr in the worl d, operatin action plant g at 20,000 with unmatc hed efficien TPD cy.

Science behind Technology

CONTENTS

OILS & FATS INTERNATIONAL

IN THIS ISSUE – JUNE 2019

FEATURES

Bleaching Earths

NEWS & EVENTS

Plant, Equipment & Technology

15

Plant and technology guide 2019 OFI features a fully updated global selection of plant and equipment suppliers to the oils and fats industry, accompanied by a chart of company activities

Bleaching Earths

27

Moving towards natural clays

Natural bleaching earths pre-blended with steam activated carbons have been shown to be a beneficial alternative to acid-activated bleaching earths in removing undesirable components during edible oil refining

Biofuels

Comment

3

Trade war escalates

News

4

Beijing retaliates against USA with 25% tariffs on goods

Biofuel News

10 20

Testing for 3-MCPD in palm oil

EU repeals anti-dumping duties on US ethanol

Biotech News

Lab-scale testing can be a useful tool in looking at process interactions, clay activity and formation of 3-MCPD fatty esters in relation to bleaching

11

US$2bn payout in third Roundup case

Transport News

29

Focus on USA Many American companies have propelled the production and use of biofuel, making the USA the world’s largest biofuel producer. However, commercialising the product faces challenges

12

Russian grain operator postpones US$300M IPO

Renewable News

13

Eni Gela biorefinery due to start commercial operations

Diary of Events

14

International events listing

Statistics

32

www.ofimagazine.com

June contents.indd 1

Statistical data from Mintec

OFI – JUNE 2019

1

11/06/2019 11:34:33

TONSIL®

Partnering with you to refine a better future.

Since 1906 we have been mining bentonite clays near the small Bavarian town of Gammelsdorf, and converting these into valuable products. In our Purification business, our Tonsil® range of adsorbents became an instant game changer for purifying edible oils and fats, and today Clariant remains a leader in edible oil purification. By partnering with you, our customers, we were able to develop an outstanding range of oil purification products perfectly tailored to the needs of today and the evolving needs of tomorrow.

Sustainably mined, our 100% natural products are developed to ensure the highest levels of performance to the oil purification industry, in an environmentally responsible way.

TONSIL® – A SUSTAINABLE TRADITION OF PURE INNOVATION CONTINUES. WWW.CLARIANT.COM / TONSIL

EDITOR'S COMMENT

OILS & FATS INTERNATIONAL

VOL 35 NO 5 JUNE 2019

EDITORIAL: Editor: Serena Lim serenalim@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855066 Assistant Editor: Gabriel Day gabrielday@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855157 SALES: Sales Manager: Mark Winthrop-Wallace markww@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855114 Sales Consultant: Anita Revis anitarevis@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855068 PRODUCTION: Production Editor: Carol Baird carolbaird@quartzltd.com CORPORATE: Managing Director: Steve Diprose stevediprose@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855164 SUBSCRIPTIONS: Elizabeth Barford subscriptions@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855028 Subscriptions, Quartz House, 20 Clarendon Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 1QX, UK © 2019, Quartz Business Media ISSN 0267-8853 WWW.OFIMAGAZINE.COM

A member of FOSFA Oils & Fats International (USPS No: 020-747) is published eight times/year by Quartz Business Media Ltd and distributed in the USA by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville PA 17318-0437.

Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Oils & Fats c/o PO Box 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437 Published by Quartz Business Media Ltd Quartz House, 20 Clarendon Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 1QX, UK oilsandfats@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855000 Printed by Pensord Press, Gwent, Wales

@oilsandfatsint

Oils & Fats International

Trade war escalates Just when many believed that the USA and China were close to resolving their trade war, tensions escalated with both governments imposing additional tariffs on each other in May (see lead story, p4).

The two countries reached a 90-day truce on 1 December but US President Donald Trump tweeted on 5 May that negotiations had been proceeding too slowly. The USA hiked its 10% tariffs on US$200bn worth of Chinese goods to 25% on 10 May. Chinese retaliation followed three days later, with announced tariffs on US$60bn worth of US goods, including 25% tariffs on virgin olive oil, peanut oil, soyabean oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil and sesame oil.

Soyabeans and other oilseeds and oils have been caught up for some time now in the current trade war, which stems from the USA trying to force China to change what it calls “discriminatory practices” relating to technology and intellectual property. After imposing 25% tariffs on US$34bn worth of Chinese imports containing industrially significant technologies on 6 July last year, Beijing responded in kind with the same tariff on the same value of products, significantly including soyabeans.

Soyabean farmers are hurting in the USA, with the American Soybean Association (ASA) declaring growers in a dire situation. “Farmers cannot withstand another year in which their most important foreign market continues to slip away and soyabean prices are 20-25% below pre-tariff levels,” says ASA president Davie Stephens. “Our finances are suffering and our patience is waning.”

Soya futures were at a 10-year low on 13 May, dropping to below US$8/bushel, and the focus is now on some 7.4M tonnes of beans which China committed to buying this year but haven’t been shipped, according to Bloomberg.

Is there any hope of the two countries reaching an agreement?

Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit on 28-29 June and the two men “maintain contact through various means”, says Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

However, there are those who believe that the US-China rivalry goes beyond trade and represents a power struggle between two very different world views, with US concerns about China’s influence growing in recent years, according to the BBC. China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative to connect it to Eurasia, the Made in China 2025 plans to upgrade Chinese industry, and the growing importance of companies such as tech giant Huawei have all contributed to these fears. So great are US concerns that Trump declared a national emergency on 16 May, allowing it to classify Huawei as a national security threat and banning its technology from the USA. With so much at stake, it is hard to predict how or when the two countries will resolve their current conflict. More is at stake than just the economies of the two countries.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already warned that the current tariff war poses a threat to the global economy, saying that the escalation of US-China trade tensions was one factor to have contributed to “significantly weakened global expansion” late last year. The CME Group also says that an escalation in the dispute could have profound consequences for currencies, commodities and other asset classes.

“If talks break down because there is not a face-saving way out for either country, the fate of commodity markets and the currencies of commodity-exporting nations will depend to a great extent on how successful the US and Chinese policy markets are in offsetting the negative consequences of the trade dispute.”

Serena Lim – serenalim@quartzltd.com

www.ofimagazine.com

June comment.indd 1

OFI – JUNE 2019

3

11/06/2019 11:32:34

NEWS IN BRIEF INDIA: The country's domestic oilseed crushing and refining industry has cut operating capacity to historic lows as a result of a surge in cheap vegetable oil imports, the Business Standard said on 17 April.

The industry’s Solvent Extractors’ Association reported a 26% jump in vegetable oil imports to 1.45M tonnes in March 2019 against 1.15M tonnes in March 2018.

“Since the imported refined oil is cheaper than the domestic counterpart, packaging units prefer to buy refined oil from overseas and pack in local units,” the Business Standard wrote.

“Consequently, domestic refineries have been forced to reduce their operating capacity to a historic low of below 30%."

China retaliates against USA with 25% tariffs on goods Beijing announced on 13 May that it would raise tariffs to as high as 25% on US$60bn worth of US goods in retaliation to the USA increasing 10% tariffs on US$200bn worth of Chinese products to 25% on 10 May. A total of 5,140 US products would be subject to additional tariffs of 5%, 10%, 20% and 25%, starting on 1 June, the finance ministry in Beijing said in a Reuters report.

A 25% tariff would apply to a list of 2,493 US goods including food products such as honey, spirits and virgin olive oil, peanut oil, soyabean oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil and sesame oil.

Other goods attracting a 25% tariff included building materials, consumer goods, transport, electronics, natural resources and chemicals.

“China’s adjustment on additional tariffs is a response to US unilateralism and protectionism,” the finance ministry said. “China hopes the US will get back to the right track of bilateral trade and economic consultations and meet with China halfway.”

The USA and China have been engaged in a

trade war since last year, with USA accusing China of discriminatory policies relating to technology and intellectual property.

On 6 July, the USA imposed 25% tariffs on US$34bn worth of Chinese imports containing industrially significant technologies. China slapped 25% tariffs on the same value of US products, including soyabeans, in response.

In September, US 10% tariffs on US$200bn worth of Chinese imports came into effect including products such as soyabean oil, sunflowerseed, rapeseed, animal fats and oils, and various oilseed flour and meals. China then imposed 25% tariffs on a wide range of US food products including several edible oils.

The countries reached a 90-day truce on 1 December but Trump tweeted on 5 May that negotiations were proceeding too slowly.

As well as the USA raising tariffs to 25% on the US$200bn worth of Chinese goods on 10 May, the country is also planning to apply 25% tariffs on a further US$325bn worth of Chinese goods.

EC publishes delegated act for determining high ILUC-risk feedstocks The European Commission has published its delegated act for determining high indirect land use change (ILUC)-risk feedstocks.

The delegated act was published in the EU Official Journal on 21 May and supplements the EU’s recast of its Renewable Energy Directive (REDII), published last December.

“It represents the legal basis to determine what feedstocks bear a high risk of causing ILUC and to define a methodology for low ILUC additional production,” said the EU Vegetable Oil and Protein Meal

Industry (FEDIOL) association.

The delegated act had drawn fire from

Malaysia and Indonesia for classifying palm oil from large plantations as a high ILUC-risk feedstock that should be capped at its 2019 level of consumption.

It was also criticised by the European association of farmers and cooperatives (Copa Cogeca) for granting a special exemption to palm oil smallholders, and for excluding other palm oil products from its scope.

FEDIOL said a first review of the delegated act and the development of a more detailed implementing act were foreseen by June 2021.

USA threatens tariffs on EU olive oil over aerospace subsidies Olive oil, butter and essential oils are among a list of EU goods that the USA has threatened to impose US$11bn worth of tariffs on in a long-running dispute over the EU’s subsidy of European aerospace corporation Airbus.

“The World Trade Organization (WTO) has found repeatedly that EU subsidies to Airbus have caused adverse effects to the USA,” the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) stated on 8 April.

“This case has been in litigation for 14 years and the time has come for action,” said US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

4 OFI – JUNE 2019

General News June.indd 2

In 2004, the USA launched a WTO challenge over EU subsidies of Airbus. Both sides have since argued their case at the WTO, which is expected to rule on the size of any countermeasures in a few months.

According to Reuters, EU officials had also started to prepare retaliatory measures in relation to US subsidies of American aerospace firm Boeing.

Olive Oil Times wrote on 10 April that EU olive oil producers could be among the hardest hit if the US tariffs were imposed, which could range from US$0.034US$0.176/kg on olive oil.

The EU exported 194,570 tonnes

of olive oil with an estimated value of US$1bn to the USA during the 2018/19 harvest season.

According to Eurostat, 35% of EU olive oil exports with an estimated value of US$339M went to the USA in the first fiscal quarter of 2019. Spain exported 35,323 tonnes and Italy 30,898 tonnes.

Nearly half of all Italian olive oil was exported to the USA in the first fiscal quarter of 2019, Olive Oil Times wrote.

Portugal and other EU producers would have less to fear since most of their olive oil was exported to other parts of the world like Brazil and the Middle East. www.ofimagazine.com

12/06/2019 09:08

Full-scale aftermarket support.

EXPECT IT.

Only Crown delivers problem-solving expertise, superior parts and on-site support.

Optimize your operation with Crown’s Aftermarket Parts and Field Services. Available to all Crown customers, our comprehensive program includes field engineering support in 13 languages to assist with install, troubleshoot issues, train staff, realize cost savings and more. To minimize downtime, our superior replacement parts are available for immediate shipment anywhere in the world. We also work with you to refurbish or replace equipment nearing the end of its lifecycle. Our aftermarket commitment is another way Crown lowers total cost of ownership to customers around the globe.

Get the aftermarket attention you deserve. Choose Crown for the long run.

Field Engineering | Replacement Parts | Replace or Refurbish Contact Crown today 1-651-639-8900 or visit our website at www.crowniron.com

NEWS

Codex to adopt 3-MCPDE and GE guide The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is expected to adopt a new Code of Practice in July for the reduction of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDEs) and glycidyl esters (GEs) in refined oils and food products made with refined oils, a German symposium on the topic heard on 21-22 May. 3-MCPDEs and GEs are carcinogenic processing contaminants formed during refining of edible oils, particularly palm oil.

The Berlin symposium, organised by the German Society for Fat Science, heard that the CAC would be adopting the new Code of Practice (COP) at its 42nd session in Geneva, Switzerland on 8-12 July. This fol-

IN BRIEF INDIA: Patanjali Ayurved’s revised bid for bankrupt edible oils business Ruchi Soya Industries has been approved by lenders, Bloomberg reported on 30 April.

The INR43.5bn bid (US$626.1M) – which 96% of the lenders voted in favour of – was made in an insolvency auction started by financial creditors to recover over INR93bn (US$1.32bn) in loans, Bloomberg quoted sources as saying.

Patanjali Ayurved’s bid was raised from INR41.6bn (US$606.1M) in March, Patanjali Ayurved spokesperson SK Tijarawala said.

Ruchi Soya entered a corporate insolvency resolution process in December 2017.

SWITZERLAND: Food and drink giant Nestlé announced on 30 April that 77% of its agricultural commodities were now verified as deforestation-free, compared to 63% in 2018. The company reached this nine years after it pledged to ensure none of its products would be associated with deforestation by 2020.

On 1 March, Nestlé wrote that 60% of its palm oil (425,000 tonnes) and 72% of its soyabean (477,000 tonnes) were deforestation free.

6 OFI – JUNE 2019

General News June.indd 3

lowed its approval by the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CONTAM) in Indonesia earlier in May. According to the COP due for adoption, refining of edible oils at temperatures above 200°C could produce 3-MCPDE and GEs. Factors such as climate, soil and growth conditions, and harvesting techniques all affected the level of the contaminants’ precursors, such as acylglycerols and chlorine-containing compounds.

“3-MCPDE forms primarily from the reaction between chlorine containing-compounds and acylglycerols like triacylglycerols (TAGs), diacylglycerols (DAGs), and monoacylglycerols (MAGs),” the COP said.

“GE forms primarily from DAGs or MAGs.” “This Code of Practice intends to provide national and local authorities, producers, manufacturers and other relevant bodies with guidance to prevent and reduce formation of 3-MCPDE and GE in refined oils and food products made with refined oils.”

The guidance would focus on good agricultural and manufacturing practices, and selection and uses of refined oils in food products made from these oils.

CAC Codes of Practices are voluntary but the Word Trade Organization recognises them as international reference points for trade disputes concerning food safety and consumer protection.

Crushing unable to offset lost sales to China

Canadian oilseed crushers are working at almost full capacity, limiting their ability to offset lost seed sales to China by processing more, said the Manitoba Co-operator on 6 May. China stopped buying Canadian canola in March, with officials citing insect and weed contamination in shipments as the reason.

However, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said China’s complaints differ to

what it found in export samples.

It was widely suspected that the move was linked to Canada’s arrest of Meng Wanzhou, vice president of Chinese technology firm Huawei. Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei’s founder, was arrested on 1 December at the request of US tax authorities.

The Manitoba Co-operator said China was Canada’s biggest canola seed buyer, accounting for 40% of exports in 2018, and also the second largest buyer of Canadian canola oil and meal.

“Canola oil and meal are still being exported to China but because Canadian crushers are working at almost full capacity, there’s not much opportunity to offset the loss of canola seed exports to China with increased shipments of oil and meal,” the newspaper wrote.

Canadian Oilseed Processing Association executive director Chris Vervaet said Western Canada’s 11 canola crushing plants were operating at 80-85% capacity, and sometimes up to 90%. The country had 10.7M tonnes of crushing capacity, he added.

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced extended financial aid on 1 May to help canola farmers affected.

Food giants pledge to reduce trans fat in food supply Twelve of the world’s largest food companies have pledged to reduce trans fat in their global food supply, to align with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal to phase out industrially-produced trans fats (iTFAs) by 2023.

The International Food & Beverage Alliance (IFBA) – which unites 12 of the leading food and beverage companies – announced on 7 May that at

the end of 2018, its members met a 2016 commitment to reduce iTFAs in their products to insignificant levels (less than one gram of fat per 100g of product) across 98.5% of their products worldwide.

The companies were now committing to align their global standard with the WHO’s recommended maximum iTFA threshold of no more than two grams of iTFA per 100g of fat

or oil by 2023.

The new iTFA commitment included fast food chain McDonald’s, which was not part of the 2016 commitment.

The twelve companies covered by the new IFBA pledge are Danone, Ferrero, General Mills, Grupo Bimbo, Kellogg’s, Mars, McDonald’s, Mondelez International, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Co. www.ofimagazine.com

12/06/2019 09:08

NEWS IN BRIEF CHINA: The Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences selected its first oil palm species for mass planting in China, Xinhuanet reported on 14 April.

Zeng Xianhai, the chief scientist of the academy’s palm tree research programme, said Elaeis Guineenusus Jacq Reyou No 4 had yielded 2.8 tonnes/ha of palm oil when grown at a trial plantation on Hainan island.

EU: The European Commission (EC) forecast a 6% decline in its total oilseed area for the 2019 harvest, the smallest sown area in seven years, UFOP reported on 26 March. The total EU oilseed area in 2019 was forecast at 11.5M ha.

“The main reason for the decline is the 10% decrease in rapeseed area to 6.2M ha."

UFOP wrote.

Rising rapeseed yields were expected to offset the decline in area and the projected rapeseed harvest of 19.9M tonnes in 2019 would match that of 2018.

The EC expected sunflower production to fall by 0.7% to 10.1M tonnes. The soyabean area would remain at about 1M ha, with a crop estimate of 2.9M tonnes.

LATIN AMERICA: Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) members in Latin America achieved 1M tonnes of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) production capacity in April.

The RSPO said 22% of Latin Amercia’s palm oil was now certified, making it the fastest growing region in terms of certified hectarage.

The 23 certified growers in the region collectively covered over 322,000ha of certified land.

The RSPO said 15% of CSPO in the region came from schemed smallholders in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras and Guatemala.

8 OFI – JUNE 2019

General News June.indd 4

'Nanolipids' used in new gene therapy against heart attacks US doctors have developed a new gene therapy involving a one-off injection of ‘nanolipids’ to prevent heart attacks.

The researchers were hoping to trial the therapy within the next three years in people with a rare genetic disorder that made them prone to heart attacks in their 30s and 40s, the Guardian reported on 11 May. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia caused very high cholesterol levels, affecting up to one in 160,000 people.

In the trial, patients would

be given a one-off injection of nanolipids – tiny, fatty spheres – which would infiltrate liver cells and release a gene-editing tool called Crispr-Cas9, which would locate a gene called PCSK9 and turn it off. Silencing 30-40% of PCSK9 – which was involved in making low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the so-called ‘bad’ cholesterol – should protect against heart attack, the Guardian wrote.

The therapy could also be relevant to any adult at risk of a heart attack, according to Sekar Kathiresan, a cardiologist

running a start-up called Verve Therapeutics, which was developing the new technology.

Kathiresan hoped the new therapy would cut the blood thinners and cholesterol-lowering statins for high blood pressure which people at risk of heart attack were typically put on.

However, other researchers pointed to the risks of gene therapy including difficulties in controlling how many genes were turned off and ensuring only target genes were edited.

Time running out to achieve 100% CSPO target in EU A third of the palm oil being processed by members of the EU Vegetable Oil and Protein Meal Industry (FEDIOL) is still not certified as sustainable, with time running out to achieve a target of 100% sustainability by 2020, FEDIOL said on 7 May. The association – which represents the interests of European oilseed crushers, vegetable oil refiners and bottlers – said that at the end of 2018, 66% of the 3.7M tonnes of palm oil which had entered its companies’ European refining plants was certified sustainable (CSPO).

“FEDIOL joined the industry commitment in Amsterdam at the end of 2015 to support the uptake of sustainable palm oil and their fractions

with a view to achieving 100% by 2020,” it said.

Anti-palm oil campaigning slowed the supply chain transformation and discouraged market players. “Further efforts will be needed to cover the remaining 34% of palm oil not yet certified.”

FEDIOL’s figures showed that CSPO intake by its reporting companies rose from 46% in 2014, to 60% in 2016 and 66% in 2018. The intake of certified sustainable palm kernel oil rose from 32% in 2014, to 52% in 2016 to 43% in 2018.

FEDIOL processes about 55M tonnes/year of oilseed commodities both of EU origin and imported. About 50% of EU palm oil imports for 2018 were used and refined by FEDIOL companies, according to the association.

Exclusion of agriculture in US-EU talks 'disappointing' The American Soybean Association (ASA) said on 16 April that it was disappointed the EU had voted to move forward in negotiating an EUUS Free Trade Agreement that excluded agriculture.

“The EU is a critically important market for US food exports, including soybeans,” the ASA said. “Soyabeans exported to the EU in 2017 were valued at US$1.6bn.”

ASA president Davie Stephens said: “With the EU now formally excluding agriculture, it will be difficult if not impossible to address these non-tariff barriers that severely inhibit trade between

our countries.”

The European Commission (EC) said on 15 April that two directives approved by EU members allowed it to begin formal negotiations on agreements relating to conformity assessment and eliminating tariffs on industrial products.

EC President Jean-Claude Juncker said slashing tariffs on industrial products could lead to an additional increase in EU and US exports worth around US$29.3bn.

In making its decision to exclude agriculture, the EU said past efforts with the USA “have demonstrated difficulties in negotiating mutually acceptable commitments in areas identified as priorities by the EU,” World Grain reported.

“It is therefore appropriate to pursue a more limited agreement covering the elimination of tariffs on industrial products, and excluding agricultural products.” www.ofimagazine.com

12/06/2019 09:08

MORE THAN ENERGY

Efficient high temperature energy solutions with steam and thermal oil.

Services by GekaKonus: Engineering | Design | Consulting Commissioning | After Sales Service

GekaKonus GmbH · Siemensstraße 10 · D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Tel.: +49 (0) 721 / 9 43 74 -0 · Fax: +49 (0) 7 21/ 9 43 74 - 44 · info@gekakonus.net · www.gekakonus.net

First class italian engineering applied worldwide.

More than 60 years of experience in the manufacturing of plants for Fat Splitting, Fatty Acid Distillation and Glycerine Refining.

The TRADiTion oF DeSiGninG The FuTuRe From design to construction and commissioning, we take care of our customers.

Experts in Edible Oil Extraction and Refining, Oleochemicals, Biodiesel Production, Lube Oil Re-refining.

TechnoiloGy Srl - Via D. Federici, 12/14 - 04012 Cisterna di Latina (LT), Italy - Tel. +39 06 9696181 - info@technoilogy.it - www.technoilogy.it www.ofimagazine.com

OFI – JUNE 2019

9

BIOFUEL NEWS

EC repeals anti-dumping duties on US ethanol The European Commission (EC) has decided to repeal anti-dumping duties on US ethanol exports into the EU. The 9.5% duties were imposed after the European ethanol association ePURE filed a complaint in 2011 that US-subsidised ethanol was harming the European biofuels industry, resulting in an anti-dumping investigation. In February 2013, the EC announced that a €62.9/tonne (US$83.03/ tonne) duty would be introduced for a fiveyear period.

However, the EC decided on 14 May to repeal the duties after ePURE requested a review in February 2018, the month the duties were due to expire.

IN BRIEF THE NETHERLANDS: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced on 27 May that it had committed to buying 75,000 tonnes/year of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Europe’s first dedicated SAF plant to be built in Delfzijl.

SAF supplier SkyNRG would develop the plant, which is scheduled to open in 2022 and will primarily use regional waste and residue streams – such as used cooking oil – as feedstocks to produce 100,000 tonnes/year of SAF, 15,000 tonnes/year of bioLPG as a byproduct, and naptha.

CHINA: Yum China Holdings announced on 13 May that it had become the first restaurant company in China to achieve International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) for its used cooking oil, to be used for biodiesel production.

Yum China launched its first biodiesel conversion pilot project in October 2018 in the city of Chengdu to convert all used cooking oil at its KFC restaurants into biodiesel.

The company said it planned to selectively roll out the biodiesel conversion initiative nationwide.

10 OFI – JUNE 2019

Biofuel news June.indd 2

The commission found no evidence that warranted a continuation of the anti-dumping duties and determined removal of such duties would not encourage dumping in the EU, Ethanol Producer Magazine reported. ePURE said the decision risked having serious consequences on the European renewable ethanol industry’s value chain, which accounted for 55,000 direct and indirect jobs in the bloc.

“This decision comes at a time when other key US export markets, including Brazil, China, Peru and Colombia, have introduced or are considering measures to protect themselves from unfair US ethanol

exports,” ePURE said. “This increases the risk that US exporters will divert exports from these countries to the EU.” The decision would also affect EU climate ambitions by favouring US ethanol, which was more carbon-intensive than European ethanol, ePURE stated.

In addition, European agriculture would suffer at a time when the EU was proposing to cut support for the sector under the Common Agricultural Policy.

At the same time, the USA had increased support for its agricultural sector through the updated 2018 five-year Farm Bill that had enhanced commodity programmes and crop insurance tools.

Norway’s use of palm oil biodiesel drops by 70% Norway’s palm oil biodiesel consumption has dropped 70% from 2017 to 2018, according to figures from the Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA) released on 3 May. The country consumed 93M litres of palm oil-based biodiesel in 2018, compared to 317M litres in 2017.

Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN) said that Europe had seen a growth in demand for palm oil, stimulated by policies to increase the consumption of renewable energy in transportation and driven by the

expansion of Indonesian and Malaysian oil palm plantations.

In 2017, the EU used 4bn litres of palm oil for biofuel.

RFN said debate on the land use and climate change impacts of palm oil-based biofuel had led to a number of policy shifts.

In October 2018, the Norwegian government announced that a biofuel blending mandate in aviation would be imposed from 2020.

In December, Norway became the first country to exclude biofuels based on high deforestation risk feedstocks

(such as palm oil) from 2020.

The details of regulatory measures were due to be presented in October 2019.

The EU had also passed legislation to eliminate the use of such biofuels, which would entail a gradual phase-out by 2030, RFN said.

Addtionally, four of Norway’s five major fuel retailers had voluntarily discontinued the sale of palm oil-based biofuel.

The NEA figures also showed that Norway had increased its advanced biofuels usage by almost 40% to 190M litres.

Indonesia may export up to 2M kl of biodiesel

Indonesia may export up to 2M kilolitres (kl) of unblended biodiesel in 2019 in an “optimistic scenario”, the Indonesia Biodiesel Producers Association (APROBI) estimates.

However, in a “pessimistic scenario”, biodiesel exports would be around 1M to 1.2M kl, APROBI vice chairman Paulus Tjakrawan said

in a Reuters report on 2 May. This would be down on 2018 levels of 1.78M kl.

The “pessimistic scenario” considered the EU setting countervailing duties on Indonesian biodiesel this year, after it launched an anti-subsidy investigation on Indonesian biofuel in late 2018.

In the first quarter of this year, Indonesia’s biodiesel exports totalled 173,542 kl, mostly destined for the EU and China, up 78% from a year ago, APROBI data showed.

Indonesia resumed biodiesel exports to Europe early last year, after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in favour of challenges Jarkata made on previous anti-dumping duties imposed by the EU on its biodiesel shipments, Reuters said.

The country’s first quarter 2019 biodiesel consumption increased to 1.5M kl from 660,000 kl a year earlier, the APROBI data showed. Indonesia’s estimated domestic biodiesel consumption for 2019 was 6.2M kl. www.ofimagazine.com

11/06/2019 11:40:13

BIOTECH NEWS

US$2bn payout in third Roundup case A California jury has ordered German chemical firm Bayer to pay more than US$2bn to a couple that developed cancer after using the Monsanto Roundup weedkiller, in the third and largest verdict against the company.

The jury in Oakland ruled on 13 May that Bayer, which bought Monsanto for US$63bn last June, was liable for the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) cancer of Alva and Alberta Pilliod, the Guardian newspaper reported.

The jury ordered the company to pay US$1bn in damages to each of them, and more than US$55M total in compensatory damages.

The ruling follows two previous trials where Bayer was ordered to pay US$80.3M to California resident Edwin Hardeman on 27 March and US$78M to

former school groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson in October 2018.

The Pilliods used Roundup for more than 30 years to landscape their home and other properties, the Guardian said. In 2011, Alva was diagnosed with systemic NHL in his bones, which spread to his pelvis and spine, and Alberta was diagnosed with NHL brain cancer in 2015.

An attorney for the couple noted that the judge in the case had permitted the legal team to present significant evidence about Monsanto’s conduct, in contrast to previous trials, where evidence was limited.

“We were finally allowed to show a jury the mountain of evidence showing Monsanto’s manipulation of science, the media and regulatory agencies to forward their own agenda despite Roundup’s severe harm to the animal kingdom and human-

kind,” he said in a statement.

This included internal Monsanto documents showing the way the company had “bullied” scientists over the years and helped “ghostwrite” research defending the safety of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, the Guardian wrote.

Bayer said it was “disappointed” with the ruling and would appeal.

Bayer has lost some 60% of its value since acquiring Monsanto and now faces around 13,400 similar Roundup cancer cases in the USA. Monsanto supplies crop protection products and biotech crop seeds, such as soyabeans, corn, cotton, wheat and canola.

▪ An Australian gardener has filed a lawsuit against Bayer for severe harm caused by Roundup, the first such case in the country, Reuters reported on 4 June.

Scientists at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a new genetic modification (GM) method they say can increase the oil yield from oilseeds by up to 15% in laboratory conditions.

The university said on 19 April that the new method could be applied to crops such as canola, soyabean and sunflower and would also benefit biofuel production.

The research team led by assistant professor Wei Ma (pictured) from NTU’s school of Biological Sciences genetically modified the key WRI1 protein which regulates plant oil production. The patent-pending method involved stabilising WRI1 to improve its ability to interact with other proteins, which enhanced its

Source: NTU

Scientists develop GM method to increase yield

effectiveness in producing natural oils.

“The ability to increase oil yield is expected to result in higher economic gain. Past research has shown that a small 1.5% increase in oil yield (by dry weight) in soyabean seeds equates to a jump of US$1.26bn in the US market,” NTU stated.

“The agricultural industry is seeking ways to maximise

plants’ yield while reducing the environmental effects of crop cultivation, especially land use,” Ma said.

“Our research helps to increase seed oil production in a sustainable and cost-effective way, and it also opens up new doors in agriculture research.”

Ma would be exploring industrial collaboration to commercialise and further develop the technology, NTU said.

IN BRIEF BRAZIL: Bio-security agency CTNBio has approved a new soybean seed resistant to drought and glufosinate-ammonium and glyphosate herbicides, Reuters reported on 24 May. The seed was developed

by Tropical Melhoramiento & Genetica (TMG), and US-Argentine joint venture Verdeca. The two firms said CTNBio’s approval would be followed by a 30-day public comment period, after which a definitive approval document would be issued.

TMG sales respresentative Luiz Gustavo Kalinowski told Reuters that the new HB4 seed was the only one in Brazil resistant to drought and the two weed-killers, with approvals by soyabean importing countries already underway.

Corteva Agriscience completes separation from DowDuPont Crop protection and biotech seed producer Corteva Agriscience, one of three businesses spun off from the mega US$130bn DowDuPont merger in 2017, began trading as a separate stock on 3 June.

Corteva produces insecticides and herbicides for various oilseeds and other crops.

Under the Pioneer and Mycogen Seeds brands, Corteva also supplies GM corn, soyabean, corn, sunflower, canola and www.ofimagazine.com

June biotech news.indd 2

alfalfa seeds to farmers worldwide.

Oilseed & Grain News wrote that last year, the business generated US$14bn in sales across 140 countries, broken down to US$7.8bn in sales for corn, soyabean and other crops seeds, and US$6.4bn in crop protection sales.

DowDuPont was formed in 2017 by the merger of US chemical giants Dow Chemical and DuPont and is now in the

final stages of splitting into three separate business units.

The “new” DuPont announced a reorganisation just five days before its historic breakup, combining two of its four remaining divisions, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on 29 May. DuPont was merging its Industrial Biosciences unit into its Nutrition & Health business. A reconstituted Dow Chemical split from the group in April.

OFI – JUNE 2019

11

12/06/2019 09:24

TRANSPORT NEWS IN BRIEF CANADA: Grain and oilseed marketer and handler Viterra Inc opened its new high throughput 34,000 tonne/year grain facility at Vegreville, Alberta on 14 March. The facility was Viterra’s most recent expansion this year, World Grain said. In February, it signed an agreement to buy General Mills’ 50% stake of a facility in Northgate, North Dakota, USA, giving it 100% ownership.

WORLD: Used cooking oil (UCO) is being utilised in a maritime biofuel pilot project involving a group of Dutch multinationals and Denmark’s AP MollerMaersk, the world’s largest container ship and supply vessel operator.

A large triple-E ocean vessel, using up to 20% second-generation biofuels, was due to sail 25,000 nautical miles from Rotterdam to Shanghai and back between March and June, a world first at this scale, saving 1.5M kg of CO2 and 20,000kg of sulphur, Maersk said in March.

“Shipping accounts for 90% of transported goods and 3% of total global CO2 emissions, and is set to rise to 15% by 2050 if left unchecked,” Maersk said.

The Dutch companies – Friesland Campina, Heineken, Philips, DSM, Shell and Unilever – are all members of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition (DSGC).

Russian grain rail operator postpones US$300M IPO Major Russian rail grain transporter RusTransCom (RTC) announced on 26 April that it had postponed plans for an initial public offering (IPO) in favour of a private equity transaction.

The company had planned to launch an IPO on the London Stock Exchange to raise US$300M in what would have been the first IPO by a Russian firm since 2017, according to Reuters.

However, in a written statement, RTC said that since announcing its IPO plan on 1 April, “RTC’s principal shareholders have received several proposals regarding private equity transactions, which are better aligned with the group’s devel-

opment strategy”.

RTC owns and operates a total fleet of 68,000 railcars including hoppers, flatcars and vegetable oil tank railcars, according to its website. More than half of its rail cars were for the transportation of grain, including wheat, corn, barley, oil plants and mixed fodder. In 2018, it was the market leader in rail transportation of grain in Russia and Kazakhstan and of timber and mineral fertilisers in Russia, according to the company.

World Grain said that in 2018, RTC transported 60.7M tonnes of grain and made revenues of 51.5bn rubles (US$788M) and a net profit of 11.6bn rubles (US$177M).

Ports allow open-loop scrubbers in waters

The Clean Shipping Alliance (CSA 2020) says it has received letters from more than 20 ports across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australasia indicating they would not ban the use of open-loop scrubbers in their waters.

The use of ‘scrubbers’ or exhaust gas cleaning systems

(EGCS) is expected to grow as a result of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s global 0.5% sulphur cap on marine fuel coming into effect on 1 January 2020.

While the European Commission would like current guidelines harmonised, defining the areas and conditions

under which liquid effluents from scrubbers can be discharged into the sea, CSA 2020 has said the EC was needlessly creating concerns.

“Members of the CSA 2020 executive committee presented to ports scientific evidence concluding that the wastewater generated by the exhaust gas cleaning process was environmentally acceptable and within regulatory limits,” the shipping alliance – representing over 30 commercial and passenger shipping firms – said on 2 May. The IMO’s new regulation will affect the world’s entire shipping fleet, including those carrying oilseeds and vegetable oils. To comply, ship owners must either use low-sulphur fuel, install scrubbers or switch to alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas.

GrainsConnect’s third Western Canada terminal operational

GrainsConnect Canada announced on 2 April that its first Alberta high-speed train loading terminal — and third terminal in Western Canada — was fully operational.

“The Vegreville project complements the first high-capacity terminals built by us in Maymont and Reford, Saskatchewan. A fourth terminal will open in Huxley, Alberta later in 2019,” the company said.

The Vegreville site features a 35,000 tonne grain terminal with the ability to load 12 OFI – JUNE 2019

Transport news June.indd 2

134 rail cars in under 14 hours.

GrainsConnect Canada is a joint venture between Japanese agricultural cooperative Zen-Noh and Australia’s GrainCorp, which stores, handles and processes grains and oilseeds, and operates bulk liquid terminals in Australia and New Zealand. GrainCorp is in the process of spinning off its malting business and integrating its grains and edible oils operations into a new business called New GrainCorp.

In addition to GrainsConnect’s highspeed loading terminals, the company is also building a new facility at the Port of Vancouver.

“GrainsConnect Canada and Parrish & Heimbecker (P&H) have signed an agreement to make Fraser Grain Terminal a 50-50 joint venture. The facility will have capacity to export up to 4M tonnes/year of wheat, barley, oilseeds, pulses and other commodities,” the company said. www.ofimagazine.com

07/06/2019 16:20:50

RENEWABLE NEWS

Eni Gela biorefinery due to start commercial operations Italian oil and gas company Eni’s biorefinery plant in Gela, Italy, is due to start commercial operations at the end of June/ beginning of July, the ACI Oleofuels 2019 conference in Italy heard on 5 June.

The Gela plant would produce 600,000-700,000 tonnes of renewable diesel or hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), with 80% of its feedstock comprising palm oil and 20% from waste feedstocks such as used cooking oil (UCO), the conference heard.

Giacomo Rispoli, executive vice president, portfolio

management and licensing at ENI, said that together with ENI’s other biorefinery in Venice – which began operations in 2014 – the company’s combined renewable diesel production would total some 1M tonnes.

ENI said the company was working towards using less palm oil in light of the recast of the European Energy Directive (RED II) and its delegated act defining palm oil as a feedstock with a high risk of indirect land use change (ILUC).

In the last two years, it had looked at waste feedstocks

such as UCO and shea olein, installing a Desmet Ballestra pre-treatment unit in 2018 at its Venice biorefinery to deal with more difficult feedstocks.

However, there were problems relating to the collection of UCO and the differing quality of each batch of UCO collected, the company said.

Eni’s proprietary renewable diesel technology, licensed from Honeywell UOP, uses hydrogen to deoxygenate a feedstock, with a second stage isomerisation step, to produce renewable diesel, as well as naptha, jet fuel and LPG.

Scientists grow terpernoids and oil in plants Scientists at Michigan State University (MSU) have used synthetic biology tools to co-produce terpenoids and oil in plant leaves.

Terpenoids form the largest class of natural products in plants with modern applications including pharmaceuticals, fragrances, nutraceuticals and chemical feedstocks, according to a university press release in February.

“Plants do not normally accumulate large amounts of oil in leaves,” the MSU said. “The oil is stored in plant cells in small lipid droplets that are surrounded by a lipid layer coated with proteins.”

Publishing their findings in Nature Communications, the MSU scientists showed that expanding lipid droplets could serve as an engineering platform for terpenoid production.

“Normally, terpenoid biosynthesis occurs at specific sites within the plant cells. The synthetic biology approach retargets and boosts the production of the terpenoid building blocks and terpenoids in engineered plants.”

The tests were carried out at laboratory scale on the Nicotiana benthamiana plant (pictured), a tobacco relative.

The university said the ultimate goal was

to produce industrially-relevant terpenoids in high-yield biomass crops, such as switchgrass.

Another feature of the system was that the terpenoids were trapped in the lipid droplets, which could be useful in the future for industrial processing of engineered biomass crops.

“Once we break open the plant cell, we can easily collect the lipid droplets – basically, oil – with the terpenoids simultaneously,” said Radin Sadre, synthetic biologist and biochemist at the MSU’s Department of Horticulture.

IN BRIEF FRANCE: French oil giant Total is set to start up its La Mede biorefinery after several delays and controversy over its use of imported palm oil as a feedstock.

Production at the 500,000 tonnes/year refinery in southern France was due to begin in two weeks, Total’s chief executive Patrick Pouyanne told journalists on 29 May. In 2015, Total announced it would invest US$223M to convert the loss-making La Mede facility from a crude oil refinery into a renewable diesel plant using Axens’ Vegan process technology.

It pledged that palm oil would account for less than half of its feedstock.

Total said last year that its feedstock supply would consist of 60-70% vegetable oil from palm, rapeseed, sunflower, carinata and soyabean oils, as well as distillers corn oil. The remaining 30-40% would come from animal fat, used cooking oil and residues from waste or the pulp and paper industry.

It had committed to using less than 300,000 tonnes/ year of crude palm oil.

GERMANY/FRANCE: German chemical company BASF has signed a contract to market the water-soluble, bio-based and biodegradable films of Lactips, France.

Lactips’ film was based on casein milk protein and aimed to replace polyvinyl alcohol films in home care and industrial and institutional (I&I) applications, the firms said on 13 May.

Biosynthetic Technologies develops fatty acids-based lubricants Biosynthetic Technologies (BT), USA, has received US$9.5M in venture capital as it develops fatty acids-based lubricants, with its first commercial products expected to launch in June, Indianapolis Business Journal reported on 7 May. The company said it was focused on developing, manufacturing and selling www.ofimagazine.com

Renewable news June.indd 2

bio-based synthetic molecules made from organic fatty acids found in plant oils.

“These functional ‘biosynthetic’ oils have numerous uses in the lubricant, chemical, and cosmetics industries,” the firm said.

BT’s primary product line, sold under the Biosynthetic Base Oil name, comprised biobased oils synthesised specifically for high

performance lubricant applications in the automotive and industrial sectors, the firm said. They could be blended into a range of viscosities to meet most lubricant applications and were compatible with common lubricant base oils and additives.

CEO Mark Miller said BT expected to launch its first commercial products in June.

OFI – JUNE 2019

13

12/06/2019 09:32

DIARY OF EVENTS 23-28 June 2019

4-5 September 2019

5-11 October 2019

30 Oct-1 November 2019

FOSFA Advanced Course Royal Holloway Egham, Surrey, UK www.fosfa.org

6th High Oleic Oils Congress Lisbon, Portugal http://higholeicmarket.com/ hoc-2019/

18th AOCS Latin American Congress and Exhibition on Fats, Oils and Lipids Foz do Iguacu, Brazil www.meetings@aocs.org

15th Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and 2020 Price Outlook BICC, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia www.gapkiconference.org

26-27 June 2019

5 September 2019

Palmex Malaysia Meritz Hotel, Sarawak, Malaysia https://www.tradefairdates. com/PalmexMalaysia-M5066/Miri.html

Black Sea Oil Trade Hilton, Kyiv, Ukraine http://bsg.ukragroconsult. com/bso/2019/en/ conference

7-10 July 2019

8-13 September 2019

9th European Symposium on Plant Lipids Marseille, France www.dgfett.de/meetings/ aktuell/marseille2019

FOSFA Basic Introductory Course Egham, Surrey, UK www.fosfa.org

17-19 July 2019

Advanced Biofuels Conference Stockholm, Sweden https://www.svebio.se/ en/evenemang/advancedbiofuels-conference-2/

Oleochem Outlook Dalian, China http://globaloleochem. ienmore.com 19-20 July 2019

17-19 September 2019

18-19 September 2019

International Conference 2019 Sunflower Seed & Oil Trident Hotel Nariman Point Mumbai, India https://www.apk-inform. com/en/conferences/ mumbai2019/about

4th Future of Surfactants Summit North America Chicago, USA https://www.wplgroup. com/aci/event/surfactantssummit-america/

11-13 August 2019

23-25 September 2019

Deep Vegetable Oil Frying Course Texas A&M University, USA https://perdc.tamu.edu/ event/vegetable-oil-frying/

International Conference on Biofuels & Bioenergy Barcelona, Spain http://www.europecongress. org/event/internationalconference-biofuels-andbioenergy

22-23 August 2019 Asia Palm Oil Conference Chonburi, Thailand http://www.palmoilconference.com/ 26-27 August 2019 13th World Congress on Biofuels and Bioenergy Vienna, Austria https://biofuels-bioenergy. expertconferences.org

For a full events list, visit: www.ofimagazine.com 14 OFI – JUNE 2019

Diary june.indd 1

25-26 September 2019 7th Oleochemicals Outlook Singapore https://www.cmtevents. com/aboutevent. aspx?ev=190923& 25-27 September 2019 Globoil India 2019 Renaissance Mumbai Convention Center Hotel Mumbai, India https://globoilindia.com/ index.html

8-9 October 2019 The Annual Association of Bulk Terminal Operators (ABTO) Conference Mövenpick Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands www.bulkterminals.org/ events.html 8-10 October 2019 The 11th Palmex Indonesia Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotel & Convention Medan, Indonesia www.palmoilexpo.com 20-23 October 2019 17th Euro Fed Lipid Congress Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento Hotel, Seville, Spain http://www.eurofedlipid.org/ pages/sevilla.html 21-22 October 2019 Advances in Biofuels and Bioenergy Toronto, Canada https://www.longdom.com/ biofuels 27-31 October 2019 Vegetable Oil Processing (Refining) and Products of Vegetable Oil/Biodiesel Texas A&M University, USA https://perdc.tamu.edu/event/ vegtetable-oil-processingand-products-of-vegetableoil-biodiesel/ 28 October-1 November 2019 86th NRA Annual Convention Park Hyatt Aviara Carlsbad California, USA www.nationalrenderers.org/ events/convention/ 29-30 October 2019 Organic & Non-GMO Forum Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA www.ongforum.com

7 November 2019 China International Oils & Oilseeds Conference (CIOC) Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou China 9-10 November 2019 2nd AOCS China Section Conference Guangzhou, China www.aocs.org/networkand-connect/membership/ sections#china-section 19-21 November 2019 International Palm Oil Congress & Exhibition 2019 Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia http://pipoc.mpob.gov.my 22-23 Novemeber 2019 PORAM Annual Events 2019 (Forum, Golf & Dinner) Doresett Grand Subang Hotel Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia http://poram.org.my/p/ 5 December 2019 10th Fats & Oils Istanbul/ Feeds & Grains Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey http://foi-fgi.com/2018/ist/ 9-12 February 2020 World Congress on Oils & Fats 2020/ISF Lectureship Series Sydney, Australia http://wcofsydney2020.com 8-10 March 2020 10th International Symposium on Deep-Frying Hagen, Germany www.dgfett.de/index.php 26-29 April 2020 2020 AOCS Annual Meeting Montreal, Canada www.annualmeeting.aocs.org www.ofimagazine.com

12/06/2019 08:56

PLANT, EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY

Plant & technology listing 2019 Oils & Fats International features a fully updated global selection of plant and equipment suppliers to the oils and fats industry, accompanied by a chart of company activities

Argentina Progobal Juan Pablo II 6750, Rosario Santa Fe Tel: +54 341 4544544 E-mail: grabois.rafael@proglobal.com www.proglobal.com

Austria BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH Parkring 18 8074 Raaba-Grambach, Styria Tel: +43 316 4009100 E-mail: sales@bdi-bioenergy.com www.bdi-bioenergy.com GIG Karasek GmbH Neusiedlerstrasse 15-19 Gloggnitz 2640 Tel: +43 2662 42780 E-mail: office@gigkarasek.at www.gigkarasek.at Other: Thin film evaporators, short path evaporators and falling film evaporators, thin film dryers Kemia Handels- und Projektierungs GmbH Hietzinger Hauptstrasse 50 Vienna 1130 Tel: +43 1 8770553 E-mail: kondor@kemia.at www.kemia.at Other: Triglycerides of modified structure, dead fish gasification, biomass gasifier

Belgium Desmet Ballestra Group - Oils, Fats and Oleochemicals Division Belgicastraat 3 - B-1930 Zaventem Tel: +32 2 7161111 E-mail: info@desmetballestra.com www.desmetballestra.com www.ofimagazine.com

P&E listing 2019.indd 1

De Smet SA Engineers & Contractors Watson & Crick Hill, Building J Rue Granbonpré 11 - Box 8 B-1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert Tel: + 32 10 43 43 00 E-mail: info@dsengineers.com www.dsengineers.com Other: EPC/EPCM contractor Pattyn Packing Lines NV Hoge Hul 2 – 8000 Bruges Tel: +32 50 450 480 E-mail: info@pattyn.com www.pattyn.com

Bulgaria Elica-elevator Ltd 32 Haralampi Dzhamdziev St Silistra 7500 Tel: +359 899 943497 E-mail: k.radulov@elica-elevator.com www.elica-elevator.com Other: Sunflower dehulling equipment

Canada SOLEX Thermal Science Inc 250, 4720 - 106 Avenue SE, Calgary Alberta T2C 3G5 Tel: +1 403 254 3500 E-mail: info@solexthermal.com www.solexthermal.com Other: Vertical seed conditioners, pellet coolers

China Crown Asia Engineering* 3rd Floor, Block A, Building 18 Innovation Base HUST Science Park, No 33 Tangxunhu Bei Road Donghu High-Tec Zone Wuhan City, Hubei Province Tel: +86 27 87223888 E-mail: sales@crownironasia.com www.crownironasia.com FAMSUN Oils&Fats Engineering Co Ltd No 1 Huasheng Road, Yangzhou Jiangsu 225127 Tel: +86 514 87770799 E-mail: myoil@famsungroup.com www.famsungroup.com Other: White flakes, fermenting meal, full fat soya extrusion, silos, conveyers

Guangzhou Scikoon Industry Co Ltd No 2 Xianke Yi Road Huadong Town Huadu District, Guangzhou Guangdong 510800 Tel: +86 20 39388895 E-mail: export@scikoon.com www.scikoon.com Other: Aspirator, cracking, flaking mill, counterflow cooler, conditioner, meal crusher, fluid bed dryer Jeff International Trading Co Ltd Weilaixinjiayuan Building Chengguan Street Zhuanghe, Dalian City Liaoning Province -116400 Tel: +86 15566809756 E-mail: jeffachilles@yeah.net Myande Group Co Ltd 199 South Ji’An Road Yangzhou City 225127 Jiangsu Province Tel: +86 514 87849111 E-mail: info@myande.com www.myandegroup.com

Czech Republic Farmet AS Jirinková 276, Ceská Skalice 55203 Tel: +420 491 450 116 E-mail: oft@farmet.cz www.farmet.eu Other: Oilseeds and vegetable oil processing technologies. Feed extrusion, feed milling technologies

Denmark GEA Process Engineering AS Gladsaxevej 305, Soeborg 2860 Tel: +45 41748485 E-mail: sascha.wenger-parving@gea.com www.gea.com Other: Vacuum and dry condensing systems Gerstenberg Services AS Vibeholmsvej 21 PO Box 196 Brøndby 2605 Tel: +45 43432026 E-mail: mgn@gerstenbergs.com www.gerstenbergs.com Other: Margarine production plant

u

OFI – JUNE 2019

15

13/06/2019 10:09:20

PLANT, EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY Haarslev Industries AS Bogensevej 85, Søndersø 5471 Tel: +45 63831100 E-mail: info@haarslev.com www.haarslev.com

E-mail: info@bruker.com www.bruker.com Other: Benchtop instruments for quality control: SFC, dynamic fat crystallisation analysis, oxidation monitoring

SPX Flow Technology Danmark AS Oestmarken 7 Soeborg DK-2860 Tel: +45 70278222 E-mail: ft.enquiries@spxflow.com www.spxflow.com Other: Dynamic mixing, sugar fat application, pasteurisation, emulsification, CIP plant

Buss-SMS-Canzler GmbH Kaiserstrasse 13-15 Butzbach 35510 Tel: +49 6033 850 E-mail: info@sms-vt.com www.sms-vt.com Other: Monoglyceride production, thin film and short path evaporators, molecular distillation

France Promill RN 12 Serville 28410 Tel: +33 2 37389193 E-mail: info@promill.fr www.promill.fr Serac 12 route de Mamers 72400 La Ferté-Bernard Tel: +33 2 43 60 28 28 E-mail: facheriaux@serac.fr www.serac-group.com

Germany Air Liquide Engineering & Construction Olof Palme Strasse 35 Frankfurt am Main 60439 Tel: +49 69 58080 E-mail: oleo@airliquide.com www.engineering-airliquide.com/ oleochemicals Other: Lurgi multi-seed sliding cell extractors; oil, fatty acid and methyl ester hardening; fatty alcohol production; glycerine to propyl glycol production B+B Engineering GmbH Otto-von-Guericke-Str 50 D-39104 Magdeburg Tel: +49 391 5054 995-0 E-mail: info@b-b-engineering.de www.b-b-engineering.de Other: Turn-key contractor; vegetable oil refining technologies (hydration, degumming, neutralisation, bleaching, deodorisation), turn-key plants; pilot plants, SKID-mounted refineries, lecithin drying plants, rapeseed dehulling process, utility generation and distribution systems, energy recovery systems Bruker Biospin GmbH Silberstreifen 4, 76287 Rheinstetten Tel: +49 721 5161 6151 16 OFI – JUNE 2019

P&E listing 2019.indd 2

Centrimax – Winkelhorst Trenntechnik GmbH Kelvinstrasse 8, Cologne, NRW 50996 Tel: +49 2236 393530 E-mail: info@centrimax.com www.centrimax.com Crown Europe - CPM SKET Niederbieberer Str 126 Neuwied 56567 Tel: +49 2631 97710 E-mail: branchoffice@cpm-sket.de www.cpm-sket.net/en/contacts/neuwied GEA Group - Product Group Separation Werner-Habig-Strasse 1 Oelde 59302 Tel: +49 2522 770 E-mail: www.gea.com/contact www.gea.com Other: Miscella clarification, aquaeous extraction, press oil clarification, soap stock splitting, alkali neutralisation and fractionation, dewaxing, centrifugal separators and decanters GEA Germany Ettlingen Am Hardtwald 1, 76275 Ettlingen Tel: +49 7243 7050 E-mail: chemical@gea.com www.gea.com Other: Evaporation and distillation plants GekaKonus GmbH Siemensstrasse 10, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344 Tel: +49 721 943740 E-mail: info@gekakonus.net www.gekakonus.net HF Press+LipidTech Seevestrasse 1 Hamburg 21079 Tel: +49 40 77 179-0 E-mail: service-plt@hf-group.com www.hf-press-lipidtech.com Other: Screw presses, spare parts and services

HTI-GESAB GmbH Sauerbruchstrasse 11, Ellerau Schleswig-Holstein DE-25479 Tel: +49 4106 70090 E-mail: info@hti-ellerau.de www.hti-ellerau.de INTEC Engineering GmbH John-Deere-Strasse 43 Bruschsal D-76646 Tel: +49 7251 9324312 E-mail: christian.daniel@intec-energy.de www.intec-energy.de Other: Biomass- and coal-fired power plants, sludge drying and incineration systems, ORCbased power generation modules, thermal oil heaters, steam generators Körting Hannover AG Badenstedter Str 56 Hannover 30453 Tel: +49 511 21290 E-mail: st@koerting.de www.koerting.de Maschinenfabrik Reinartz GmbH & Co. KG Industriestrasse 14, Neuss 41460 Tel: + 49 2131 9761-0 E-mail: info@reinartz.de www.reinartz.de Other: Screw presses, screw dryers, seed conditioning, oil storage, animal feed and bioenergy production VTA GmbH & Co KG Bernrieder Strasse 10 Niederwinkling 94559 Tel: +49 9962 95980 E-mail: info@vta-process.de www.vta-process.de Other: Wiped film and short path distillation, distilled monoglycerides Schneider Kessel GmbH Hildburghauser Str 79 12249 Berlin Tel: +49 307 5449399-0 E-mail: info@schneider-kessel.com www.schneider-kessel.com

India Kumar Metal Industries Pvt Ltd Plot No 7 Mira Industrial Estate Western Express Highway Mira Road (E), Mumbai Maharashtra 401104 Tel: +91 9860272657 E-mail: dilip@kumarmetal.com www.kumarmetal.com www.ofimagazine.com

13/06/2019 10:09:20

PLANT & TECHNOLOGY Mectech Process Engineers Pvt Ltd 366, Phase – 2, Udyog Vihar Gurgaon – 122 016 Haryana Tel: +91 124 4700800 Fax: +91 124 4700801, 4700802 E-mail: info@mectech.co.in www.mectech.co.in Other: Hydrogenation and IE plants Sharplex Filters (India) Pvt Ltd R-664, Rabale MIDC Navimumbai 400701 Tel: +91 22 69409850 E-mail: sales@sharplexfilters.com www.sharplexfilters.com United Engineering (E) Corporation Plot 75, Sector 3, IMT Manesar Gurugram Haryana 122051 Tel: +91 1244273011 E-mail: sales@uec-india.com www.uec-india.com Other: Screw presses, complete turnkey seed processing and pressing plants, seed conditioning, dewatering presses, animal feed, spares and services.

Veendeep Oiltek Exports Pvt Ltd N-16/17/18 Additional MIDC Patalganga Maharastra 410207 Tel: +91 9769315463 E-mail: pmbhandari@veendeep.com www.veendeep.com

Italy Andreotti Impianti Spa Via Di Le Prata 148, Calenzano, Florence 50041 Tel: +39 055 44870 E-mail: info@andreottiimpianti.com www.andreottiimpianti.com Other: Plants for oilseeds, edible oils and oleochemicals Binacchi & Co Srl Via Gramsci 84, Varese Gazzada-Schianno 21045 Tel: +39 0332 461354 E-mail: mail@binacchi.com www.binacchi.com Other: Soap and detergent processing plants and equipment, packaging machinery CM Bernardini International SpA Via Appia km 55900, Cisterna di Latina LT 04012 Tel: +39 06 96871028 E-mail: info@cmbernardini.it www.cmbernardini.it Other: Oil hydrogenation www.ofimagazine.com

P&E listing 2019.indd 3

u OFI – JUNE 2019 17

13/06/2019 10:09:22

PLANT, EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY u CMBITALY-TECHNOILOGY Via D Federici 12/14, Cisterna di Latina Lazio 04012 Tel: +39 06 9696181 E-mail: info@technoilogy.it www.technoilogy.it Desmet Ballestra SpA - Detergents, Surfactants and Chemicals Division Via Piero Portaluppi 17, 20138 Milano Tel: +39 02 50831 E-mail: mail@ballestra.com www.desmetballestra.com Servizi Industriali Srl Marie Curie 19, Ozzano Dell’Emilia Bologna 40064 Tel: +39 051 795080 E-mail: commerciale@macfuge.com www.macfuge.com

Malaysia Besteel Berhad* Lot 9683 Kawasan Perindustrian Desa Aman Batu 11, Desa Aman, Sungai Buloh, Selangor 47000 Tel: +6012 6729683 E-mail: michaelchan@besteerlberhad.com www.besteelberhad.com Other: Turnkey contractor for palm oil mills EMEC Packaging Solutions Sdn Bhd PT 13532, Jalan Bating, Pandamaran 42000 Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: +603 3168 6300 / 3165 1344 E-mail: info@emec-corp.com www.emec-corp.com JJ-Lurgi Engineering Sdn Bhd No 7-13A-01, Jebsen & Jessen Tower, UOA Business Park (Tower 7), Jalan Pengaturcara U1/51A, Seksyen U1, Shah Alam, Selangor 40150 Tel: +60 3 50306363 E-mail: jj-lurgi_enquiry@jjsea.com www.jj-lurgi.com Muar Ban Lee Group JR52, Lot 1818, Jalan Raja, Kawasan Perindustrian Bukit Pasir Muar, 84300 Johor Tel: +60 6 9859998; E-mail: mbl@mbl.com www.mbl.com OILTEK Sdn Bhd Lot 6, Jalan Pasaran 23/5 Kaw Miel Phase 10 40300 Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: +603 554 28288 E-mail: oiltek@oiltek.com.my www.oiltek.com.my Other: Heating systems for bulking installation 18 OFI – JUNE 2019

P&E listing 2019.indd 4

The Netherlands

Switzerland

amafilter – LFC Lochem, Filtration Group Process Systems Hanzeweg 21, 7241 CS Lochem Tel: +31 573 297 777 E-mail: info@filtration.group www.filtration.group Other: Cricket filters, bags & cartridge solutions

Bühler AG Gupfenstrasse 5, Uzwil, St Gallen 9240 Tel: +41 71 9551111 E-mail: media@buhlergroup.com www.buhlergroup.com Other: Cracking & flaking mills, vertical seed conditioners, horizontal & vertical impact dehullers and hammer mills, fluidising beds, bagging stations, chain conveyors, ship loaders/unloaders, filters, throw & drum sieves, hull separators, drum magnets, cylindrical case aspirators

CPM Europe BV Rijder 2 1507 DN, Zaandam, Noord-Holland Zaandam Tel: +31 75 6512611 E-mail: info@cpmeurope.nl www.cpmeurope.nl Geelen Counterflow Windmolenven 43, Haelen 6081 PJ Tel: +31 475 592315 E-mail: info@geelencounterflow.com www.geelencounterflow.com Other: Coolers and dryers Van Mourik Crushing Mills* Boylestraat 34, Ede 671 8XM Tel: +31 318 641144 E-mail: info@crushingmills.com www.crushingmills.com

Buss ChemTech AG Hohenrainstrasse 12A, Pratteln 4133 Tel: +41 61 8256462 E-mail: info@buss-ct.com www.buss-ct.com Other: Hydrogenation process design Sulzer Chemtech Ltd Neuwiesenstrasse 15, Winterthur 8401 Tel: +41 52 2623722 E-mail: chemtech@sulzer.com www.sulzer.com

Turkey

T-1 Ada Karadordeva 60, Ada 24430 Tel: +381 24 854585 E-mail: sales@t-1.rs www.screw-presses.com Other: Screw presses, spare parts, refurbishing

Keller & Vardarci Industries Ltd Sti Cinar Sok No 12 Ege Serbest Bolgesi, Gaziemir Izmir, Izmir 35410. Tel: +90 232 4784814 E-mail: gulservardarci@vardarci.com.tr www.keller-vardarci.com Other: Seed cleaners, dehullers, screw oil presses, cookers, screens, filter presses, spare parts for oil crushing mills, cottonseed delinters, lint cleaners, bale presses

Singapore

Ukraine

LIPICO Technologies Pte Ltd 61 Bukit Batok Crescent #06-03 to #06-06 Heng Loong Building, Singapore 658078 Tel: +65 631 67800 E-mail: sg.enquiry@lipico.com www.lipico.com

TAN LLC* 20 Ushynskogo Street, Chernihiv 14014 Tel: +380 462 672112 E-mail: tan@tan.com.ua www.tan.com.ua

Serbia

Sweden AAK AB* Skrivaregatan 9 Malmö 215 32 Tel: +46 40 6278300 E-mail: info@aak.com www.aak.com Alfa Laval Corporate AB Rudeboksvägen 1 SE-226 55 Lund Tel: + 46 46 36 65 00 E-mail: alfa.laval@alfalaval.com www.alfalaval.com

United Arab Emirates Metan FZCO Office 2203, Jafza View 18, Jebel Ali Dubai 61389 Tel: +971 4 8895657 E-mail: m@metan.ae www.metan.ae

United Kingdom Chemtech International Crown House, 1A High Street, Theale, Berkshire RG7 5AH Tel: +44 1189 861 222 E-mail: nigel@chemtechinternational.com www.chemtechinternational.com www.ofimagazine.com

13/06/2019 10:09:22

PLANT, EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY Crown Europe - Europa Crown Waterside Park, Livingstone Road, Hessle East Yorkshire HU13 0EG Tel: +44 1482 640 099 E-mail: sales@europacrown.com www.europacrown.com

Blackmer* 1809 Century Avenue SW, Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 Tel: +1 616 2411611 E-mail: info@blackmer.com www.blackmer.com

Lovibond Tintometer Lovibond House, Sun Rise Way, Amesbury Wiltshire SP4 7GR Tel: +44 1980 664800 E-mail: sales@tintometer.com www.lovibond.com Other: Colour measurement for quality control

Crown Americas - Crown Iron Works 9879 Naples Street NE, Blaine, MN 55449 Tel: +1 651 639 8900 E-mail: sales@crowniron.com www.crowniron.com

Oxford Instruments Tubney Woods, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX13 5QX Tel: +44 1865 393200 E-mail: magres@oxinst.com https://nmr.oxinst.com/

USA Anderson International Corp* 4545 Boyce Parkway, Stow, Ohio 44224 Tel: +1 216 6411112 E-mail: eric.stibora@andersonintl.com www.andersonintl.com

www.ofimagazine.com

P&E listing 2019.indd 5

The Dupps Company 548 North Cherry Street Germantown Ohio 45327-0189 Tel: +1 937 8556555 E-mail: info@dupps.com www.dupps.com Other: Process drying, oilseed screw press, rotary drum dryers, airless dryers French Oil Mill Machinery Company 1035 W Greene Street, PO Box 920 Piqua Ohio 45356 Tel: +1 937 7733420

E-mail: oilseedsales@frenchoil.com www.frenchoil.com Other: Mechanical screw presses, conditioners/ cookers, animal feed, rate bins, oil settling tanks, oil filters, cleaners, cake coolers Pope Scientific Inc POB 80018 Saukville Wisconsin 53080 Tel: +1 262 2689300 E-mail: dsegal@popeinc.com www.popeinc.com Other: Degassers, evaporators, reactors, foods, flavours, fragrances, portable vessels, pilot plants and turnkey processing systems, Nutsche filterdryers The above companies are a selection of plant, equipment and technology suppliers to the oils and fats industry who have replied to an Oils & Fats International questionnaire this year.

Please refer to ‘Summary Table of Company Activities’ chart for companies’ areas of operation.

‘Other’ refers to other activities selected in the accompanying chart * Denote entries from 2018

OFI – JUNE 2019 19

13/06/2019 10:09:23

Hydrogenation

Other equipment

Screens & filtration

ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT

Storage & handling

End user processes/equipment

PROCESS PLANT & EQUIPMENT

Refining

Extraction

Oilseed crushing mills Solvent extraction Fish oil/meal processing Rendering/fat melting plant Pelleting mills Other Degumming Winterising Crystallisation Oil distillation/fractionation Alkali & physical refining Interesterification Miscella refining Deodorisers Bleachers Oil dryers Fat splitting Fatty acid distillation/fractionation Other Hydrogen generators Hydrogen systems

l

l

l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l

l l l

l

l l l l l l l l l l l l

FAMSUN Oils&Fats Engineering

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l

l l l

l

l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l

l

l l l l l l l

l l l l

l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

l l l

l l l

l

l l

l l l

l l l l l l l l

l

l

l

l

*Denote entries from 2018

P&E Chart 2019 WEB.indd 2

Crown Asia Engineering*

China

SOLEX Thermal Science

Canada

Elica-elevator

Bulgaria

Pattyn Packing Lines

l l l l l l

Other Cooking/salad oils Butter formulation Shortening/margarine production Vitamin E production Lecithin production Suplhonation Ethoxylation/propoxylation Detergent formulation Detergent production Soap production Soap finishing Cosmetics production Glycerine refining Fatty acid derivatives Pharmaceuticals Biodiesel/methyl ester Other Pneumatic conveyors Belt conveyors Vibratory conveyors Slatted conveyors Elevators Loading arms/chutes Auger feeders Storage silos Storage tanks Other Screens Centrifugal separators Gravity separators Magnetic separators Membrane separators Filter presses Pressure leaf filters Other Packing equipment Instrumentation Pumps/fluid handling Vacuum systems/ejectors Process heating systems Steam boilers Thermal oil heaters Heat recovery systems Other

De Smet Engineers & Contractors

Desmet Ballestra Group

Belgium

Kemia Handels- und Projektierungs

GIG Karasek

BDI-BioEnergy International

PROCESS S.R.L. (PROGLOBAL)

l l

Austira

Argentina

Plant & technology chart 2019

14/06/2019 10:42:18

l

OLEOCHEMICALS Methylesters • Glycerine • Biodiesel Fatty Acids • Fatty Alcohols

l

l l

l

l l l

l

l l l

l

l l

l

l

l l l

l l

l l

l l

l l l

l

l

l l

l l

l l l

l

l l

l

l l

l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l

l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

l l l

l l l l l l l l l l

l

l l l

l

P&E Chart 2019 WEB.indd 3

l

l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

Kumar Metal Industries

India

VTA & Co

l l l l l l

l l l l

l l l l l 1 l l l l l l l

l l

Other Degumming Winterising Crystallisation Oil distillation/fractionation Alkali & physical refining Interesterification Miscella refining Deodorisers Bleachers Oil dryers Fat splitting Fatty acid distillation/fractionation Other Hydrogen generators Hydrogen systems Other

l l

l

l

l

l l l

l l l

l l l

l l

l l

l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l

l l l

l l l

l

l l

l l

l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Cooking/salad oils Butter formulation Shortening/margarine production Vitamin E production Lecithin production Sulphonation Ethoxylation/propoxylation Detergent formulation Detergent production Soap production Soap finishing Cosmetics production Glycerine refining Fatty acid derivatives Pharmaceuticals Biodiesel/methyl ester Other Pneumatic conveyors Belt conveyors Vibratory conveyors Slatted conveyors Elevators Loading arms/chutes Auger feeders Storage silos Storage tanks Other Screens Centrifugal separators Gravity separators Magnetic separators Membrane separators Filter presses Pressure leaf filters Other Packing equipment Instrumentation Pumps/fluid handling Vacuum systems/ejectors Process heating systems Steam boilers Thermal oil heaters Heat recovery systems Other

Extraction

Schneider Kessel

Maschinenfabrik Reinartz

Körting Hannover

INTEC Engineering

HTI-GESAB

GekaKonus

l l l l l l l l l l l lv2-87x265General-OFI-2015.indd

l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Rendering/fat melting plant

l Pelleting mills

l l l l l l l l l

l l l l

HF Press+LipidTech

Crown Europe - CPM SKET

GEA Group, Product Group Separation

Centrimax-Winkelhorst Trenntechnik

GEA Germany Ettlingen

l l

ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT

l l l l l l l l l

l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l Oilseed crushing mills l Solvent extraction Fish oil/mealbehind processing Technology l Science

l

Refining

l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l

Hydrogenation

l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

End user processes/equipment

l l l

l

l

Buss-SMS-Canzler

l

l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Bruker Biospin

l l

l l l

B+B Engineering

Air Liquide Engineering & Construction

Germany

Serac

Promill

France

SPX Flow Technology Denmark

Haarslev Industries

Gerstenberg Services

GEA Process Engineering Denmark

Denmark

Farmet

l

Storage & handling

l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l

Screens & filtration

l l l l l l l l l l l l

Czech Republic

Myande Group

Jeff International Trading

Guangzhou Scikoon Industry

l l l l l l

Other equipment

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l

PROCESS PLANT & EQUIPMENT

l l l l l

FAMSUN Oils&Fats Engineering

Crown Asia Engineering*

China

SOLEX Thermal Science

t 2019: Summary table of company activities

14/06/2019 10:42:20

Hydrogenation

End user processes/equipment Storage & handling

ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT

Other equipment

Screens & filtration

PROCESS PLANT & EQIUPMENT

Refining

Other Cooking/salad oils Butter formulation Shortening/margarine production Vitamin E production Lecithin production Suplhonation Ethoxylation/propoxylation Detergent formulation Detergent production Soap production Soap finishing Cosmetics production Glycerine refining Fatty acid derivatives Pharmaceuticals Biodiesel/methyl ester Other Pneumatic conveyors Belt conveyors Vibratory conveyors Slatted conveyors Elevators Loading arms/chutes Auger feeders Storage silos Storage tanks Other Screens Centrifugal separators Gravity separators Magnetic separators Membrane separators Filter presses Pressure leaf filters Other Packing equipment Instrumentation Pumps/fluid handling Vacuum systems/ejectors Process heating systems Steam boilers Thermal oil heaters Heat recovery systems Other

l

l

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l

l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l

l l l l l

l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l

l l

l l

l

l l

l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l

l l

l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l

l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l

l l

l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l

l

l l

l l

l l l l l l

l l

l l l l l l l l l l

l l

l l l l l l

l

l

l l

l

l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l

l l l l l l

l l

l l

l l l l

l l

l l l l

l

l l l

l l l l

l l l l

l l

l l l

l

l l

l

l l

l

l

l l l l

l l

l l l l

l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l

l l l l l

l l

l l l l

l l

l

l l l

l l l l l l l l l

l l

l l l

l

l

l l

l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

l l

l l l l

l

l l

l l l

l l l l

l l

l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

l l

l

l l

l

l

l l l

l l l l l l l l l

l

*Denote entries from 2018

P&E Chart 2019 WEB.indd 4

Keller & Vardarci Industries

l

United Arab Emirates

Sulzer Chemtech

Turkey

Buss ChemTech

Switzerland

BĂźhler

l l l

l l

Alfa Laval Corporate

AAK*

LIPICO Technologies

l

Sweden

Singapore

T-1 Ada

Serbia

Van Mourik Crushing Mills*

Geelen Counterflow

Filtration Group Process Systems

l

CPM Europe

l l

Netherlands

Besteel Berhad*

Servizi Industriali

Malaysia

l l

l

l l l l

l

l l l l l

l

l

l l

Desmet Ballestra

l

OILTEK

l l l

l l l

Muar Ban Lee Group

l l l l l

JJ-Lurgi Engineering

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Binacchi & Co

Italy

Andreotti Impianti

United Engineering

Veendeep Oiltek Exports

Sharplex Filters

l l

CMBITALY-TECHNOILOGY

Oilseed crushing mills Solvent extraction Fish oil/meal processing Rendering/fat melting plant Pelleting mills Other Degumming Winterising Crystallisation Oil distillation/fractionation Alkali & physical refining Interesterification Miscella refining Deodorisers Bleachers Oil dryers Fat splitting Fatty acid distillation/fractionation Other Hydrogen generators Hydrogen systems

CM Bernardini International

Extraction

Mectech Process Engineers

Plant & technology chart 2019: Summary table of co

14/06/2019 10:42:22

OLEOCHEMICALS Methylesters • Glycerine • Biodiesel Fatty Acids • Fatty Alcohols

l

Pope Scientific

French Oil Mill Machinery

Dupps Company

Other

l l

l l

l l

l l l l l

l

l

l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l

l l l

l l l l l l l

l l l l

l l l l l l l l

l l l

l l l l l l l l l

l l l l

l l l l l l l

l l l

l l l

P&E Chart 2019 WEB.indd 5

l

l l l l l l l l

l

l

l

l l l l l l

l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

l

l l l l l l

l

l

l

l l

4/30/15 10:34 AM

l Cooking/salad oils l l

l l l l l

Extraction

Crown Americas - Crown Iron Works

Blackmer*

Anderson International*

USA

Lovibond Tintometer

l l

Science behind Technology

Refining

l

l

Hydrogenation

l l

l

l

l

Butter formulation Shortening/margarine production Vitamin E production Lecithin production Sulphonation Ethoxylation/propoxylation Detergent formulation Detergent production Soap production Soap finishing Cosmetics production Glycerine refining Fatty acid derivatives Pharmaceuticals Biodiesel/methyl ester Other Pneumatic conveyors Belt conveyors Vibratory conveyors Slatted conveyors Elevators Loading arms/chutes Auger feeders Storage silos Storage tanks Other Screens Centrifugal separators Gravity separators Magnetic separators Membrane separators Filter presses Pressure leaf filters Other Packing equipment Instrumentation Pumps/fluid handling Vacuum systems/ejectors Process heating systems Steam boilers Thermal oil heaters Heat recovery systems Other

End user processes/equipment

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l

l l l l l

Storage & handling

l l l l l l l l l l

Oilseed crushing mills Solvent extraction Fish oil/meal processing l l Rendering/fat melting plant l Pelleting mills l l Other l l Degumming l l Winterising l Crystallisation l l l Oil distillation/fractionation Alkali & physical refining l v2-87x265General-OFI-2015.indd 1 Interesterification l Miscella refining l l l Deodorisers Bleachers l l l Oil dryers Fat splitting l l l Fatty acid distillation/fractionation l Other Hydrogen generators l Hydrogen systems l

l l l

Screens & filtration

l l l l l

Other equipment

l l

Oxford Instruments

Crown Europe - Europa Crown

Chemtech International

United Kingdom

Metan FZCO

Keller & Vardarci Industries

l

United Arab Emirates

Sulzer Chemtech

Turkey

e of company activities

14/06/2019 10:42:24

BLEACHING EARTHS

Testing for 3-MCPD in palm oil The goal of edible oil processing is to free and purify lipids from their raw source and process them into safe and palatable oil for human consumption at minimal costs.

Crude edible oils are impacted by the conditions in which they are managed from harvesting through final packaging.

Process changes at any step in the refining process can have significant impact on finished oil quality.

Caustic (alkali) and physical refining (see Table 1, below) are the two main refining pathway options currently employed that are generally selected based on process economics in removing detrimental contaminants.

Caustic refining favours unsaturated oils with low levels of fatty acids and high levels of recoverable phospholipids

Alkali (caustic) or chemical refining

Main groups of compounds removed

Physical refining

Degumming

Phospholipids

Degumming

Neutralisation

Free fatty acids (FFAs), soaps

–

Bleaching

Pigments, metals, soaps PVs

Bleaching

Deodorisation

Volatiles, FFAs

Deodorisation/ Deacidification

Table 1: Basic steps of the refining process 20 OFI – JUNE 2019

bleaching earths NEW.indd 1

Source: Oil-Dri Corporation of America

Lab-scale testing can be a useful tool in looking at process interactions, clay activity and formation of 3-MCPD fatty esters in relation to bleaching David Brooks

(mostly non-hydratable). Physical refining is employed for oils, such as palm oil, where the opposite holds true and when conventional caustic refining is not economically favourable.

3-MCPDs & GEs

3-monochloropropane diol (3-MCPD) and glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) (see Figure 1, following page) are processing-induced contaminants primarily found in refined fats and oils, as well as foods containing fats and oils.

Initially, it was assumed that 3-MCPD esters and GEs were formed by similar processes but it is now known that their mechanisms of formation are different.

Both substances are considered to be of concern to public health and it is recommended to minimise the amount consumed. The EU has set maximum limits for GEs with the level for edible oils and fats set at 1ppm in Regulation (EU) 2018/290, enacted on 26 February 2018.

In addition, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also set a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 2μg/kg body weight per day (0.002ppm/kg body weight) for free 3-MCPD, in a scientific assessment published in January 2018. The EFSA found palm oil and palm fats to have the highest levels of 3-MCPD, 2-MCPD (including esters) and GEs. u www.ofimagazine.com

07/06/2019 17:01:28

Pure-Flo B80

BANK ON B80 USE LESS. SAVE MORE. Pure-FloÂŽ B80 is the most active natural product for bleaching palm oil. Its high level of activity means dosage can be reduced without compromising performance. Our Pure-FloÂŽ B80 customers report as much as a 30% reduction in bleaching earth usage and a beneficial reduction in 3-MCPD ester formation.

To start significantly lowering palm oil operating costs, visit BankonB80.com

BLEACHING FEATURE EARTHS MCPD = MonoChloroPropane-1,2-Diol FE = Fatty Esters = Esters

Cl

3-MCPD FE

Cl

2-MCPD FE

O

Glycidyl FE

OH OH Cl

Free 3-MCPD

Figure 1: MCPD FE formation – structures of interest

Hand Blender

Dry Degumming

Bleachers

Bleaching

Micro Deodorizer

Deodorization Figure 2: Lab-scale equipment

Before Bleaching

After Bleaching

1,000 PPM Acid, R2 = 0.1628

12

1,000 PPM Acid, R2 = 0.8808

12

500 PPM Acid, R2 = 0.4761

10

Phosphorus Remaining PPM

Phosphorus Remaining PPM

500 PPM Acid, R2 = 0.1631

8 6 4 2

10 8 6 4 2 0

0 0

0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40

% Water Before Bleaching

Figure 3a: Moisture effect on phosphorous levels 2 OFI 22 OFI––MONTH JUNE 2019 2018

bleaching earths NEW.indd 2

0

0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40

% Water After Bleach/Filter

u

Lab-scale pre-screening

Testing options used to evaluate the impact of process changes range in scale between micro to plant level. As the scale increases, the associated costs also increase. For the sake of clarity, scale is defined by oil capacity; a pilot plant is greater than 5kg, lab-scale is less than 5kg, macro-scale is 200-5,000g, and micro-scale is less than 200g.

There are pros and cons to testing on a plant scale versus a lab scale.

• Plant-scale gives real time, direct results with immediate application.

However, production costs, manpower, and the cost of failure all trend higher for plant-scale than lab-scale.

• On a lab scale, instruments and bench work require space. However, experiments can be run congruently with production, and theories may be tested in short order with minimal manpower and costs.

• Lab-scale work rarely provides absolute scale-up performance; it is more useful to reveal trends and run side by side comparisons.

Testing applications

Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC), using lab-scale equipment and a micro deodorisation set-up (see Figure 2, above) provided examples illustrating the usefulness of lab-scale pre-screening protocols.

Application 1: Process interactions Employing lab-scale equipment, ODC set out to test the importance of monitoring moisture in the physical refining of crude palm oil and established that: • The final oil moisture is more noteworthy (better correlation) in reducing phosphorous and red colour than the starting oil moisture.

• Controlling bleached/filtered oil moisture between 0.05-0.10% has a positive impact on final oil characteristics.

In the experiment that ODC performed, dry degumming was carried out at 500ppm and 1,000 ppm phosphoric acid, with <0.05% and 0.5% starting water, at 850C, for 15 minutes at N2 atmosphere.

During bleaching, ODC’s Pure-Flo B80 bleaching earth was added at 1% wt/wt oil, at a variable vacuum, 50-125 mmHg, for 30 minutes at 900C. The oil was filtered w/N2 through 20 micron paper.

Deodorisation was carried in a lab-scale micro deodoriser, 90g; at around 2 mmHg, at 2400C for 30 minutes and 2600C for 30 minutes. Changes in moisture and impact u on phosphorous and RBD colour were www.ofimagazine.com

07/06/2019 17:01:35

MINCLEAR 87X128-OK.pdf

1

1/6/17

9:25

www.tolsa.com

MINCLEAR® High Absorptive Bleaching Earths based on Natural and Activated Clays.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

Excellent for Vegetable Oils.

• High filtration rate extending the life of filters.

• Excellent rate of metal absorption.

• Effective removal of chlorophyll.

• Low Peroxide Value allowing for effective stability of oils.

• Removes phospholipids and soaps.

CMY

K

TOLSA, S.A. Parque Empresarial Las Mercedes C/ Campezo, 1, Ed. 4, Pl. 2ª 28022 Madrid Tel.: +34 913 220 100 info@tolsa.com www.ofimagazine.com

OFI – JUNE 2019

23

u

BLEACHINGFEATURE EARTHS u recorded before and after bleaching (see

Before Bleaching

Figures 3a and 3b, previous page).

The data challenges the concept of drying the oil during the bleaching stage to low moisture (<0.05%).

After Bleaching

1,000 PPM Acid, R2 = 0.0249

4.0

1,000 PPM Acid, R2 = 0.3835

4.0

500 PPM Acid, R = 0.0373

500 PPM Acid, R2 = 0.5785

2

Application 3: MCPD FE formation In a third experiment, (Part A), ODC set out to test the ‘literature’ potential of no degumming, no bleaching and no deodorisation (10g, 2 hours at 2400C) against the ODC ‘no clay’ potential of dry degumming (250ppm, phosphoric acid), bleached (no sorbent) and deodorised (see Figure 5, right).

During the test, dry degumming was carried out with phosphoric acid, with 0.5% water, at 850C, for 15 minutes at N2 atmosphere, on 200g scale. Bleaching was carried out at 900C for 30 minutes at 75mmHg; 200g, with ~0.4% water.

Deodorisation was undertaken with a labscale micro deodoriser, 90g; at ~2mmHg, at 2400C for 30 minutes and 2600C for 30 minutes. A side by side comparison of the two methods for establishing MCPD FE potential concentration levels was performed on five independent oils ranging in DOBI values from 1.5 to 3.0.

The results showed: • The two methods were in close agreement for both 2- and 3-MCPD FE. • There was no agreement between the two methods with respect to GEs. • The ODC ‘no clay’ full treatment with acid approach may be more effective at forcing GEs formation and therefore be better at establishing potential u values. www.ofimagazine.com 24 OFI – JUNE 2019

bleaching earths NEW.indd 3

3.5 3.0

RBD Red Color

RBD Red Color

3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5

2.5 2.0 1.5

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0

0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40

0

0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40

0

% Water Before Bleach

% Water After Bleach/Filter

Figure 3b: Moisture effect on RBD colour

4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2

Deoderized Red Color (5.25 in path)

The work predicted an 11% relative difference between Pure-Flo B80 and the African clays of interest.

3.5

4.1 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.7

African Clays

3.6 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1

Deodorized Oil Color Target

3.0 2.9

11% Less Clay

Pure-Flo® B80

2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 0.70

0.80

0.90

1.0

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

% Water Before Bleach

Figure 4: Bleaching Isotherm example

8 3 MCPD - FEs

7

Literature Potential PPM

Application 2: Bleaching activity In a second experiment, ODC demonstrated the technique of employing bleaching isotherms to show performance differences between Pure-Flo B80 and two African clays (see Figure 4, right).

• The test employed similar standard conditions; 350ppm phosphoric acid and 0.5% moisture in oil.

• A three point ‘bleaching isotherm’ was run, employing crude palm oil (1.5 DOBI) at clay dosages of 0.85 wt%, 1.0 wt% and 1.15 wt%.

• In this case, bleaching clay was added at wt/wt oil at a variable vacuum, 75-100 mmHg, for 30 minutes at 1050C and filtered.

• Deodorisation was carried out in a lab-scale micro deodoriser, 90 g; <2mmHg, at 2600C for 60 minutes.

2 MCPD - FEs

6

R2 = 0.8533

Glycidyl - FEs

5 4 3 2

R2 = 0.8564 R2 = 0.2889

1 0 0

1

2

8

4

5

6

7

8

“No Clay” Fully Refined Potential PPM

Figure 5: MCPD FE formation – ‘literature’ vs ODC potential

OFI www.ofimagazine.com – MONTH 2018 3

07/06/2019 17:01:36

17

20 – 23 October 2019 Seville · Spain

and Expo

OILS, FATS AND LIPIDS

Driving Science and Technology to new Horizons

www.eurofedlipid.org/meetings/seville2019 www.ofimagazine.com

OFI – JUNE 2019 25

BLEACHING EARTHS u In Part B of the third experiment, ODC

Finally, ODC set out to best illustrate the impact of acid clay and deodoriser temperature on the reduction of GEs. Generally formed during deodorisation, finished oils can be post refined to reduce GEs. In this experiment, post bleaching was carried out with an acid clay at low dosage (<0.6%) and temperature (90°C) for 30 minutes under vacuum. Post deodorisation was undertaken with a lab-scale micro deodoriser. Conditions were held at either 210°C or 245°C under ~2mmHg vacuum for 1 hour.

The outcome of this work shows that GE levels of 0.5ppm are achievable under the test conditions; more specifically with an acid clay such as Supreme Pro-Active and deodoriser conditions at 210°C (see Figure 7, right).

Conclusion

Bleaching is interdependent to the processes before and after it, especially in the physical refining of palm oil.

Lab-scale processing options can be a valuable tool in establishing directional interactions of process changes.

Utilisation of lab-scale processing has been demonstrated to be helpful in identifying proper process conditions, determining bleaching clay efficiency, and in establishing useful trends in the

26 OFI – JUNE 2019

bleaching earths NEW.indd 4

8.3

1000 ppm PA; RBD w/ 2.2% Clay

8.5

8 350 ppm PA; RBD w/ 2.0% Clay

7

Total 2 & 3-MCPD Ester PPM

Application 4: GE FE post refining reduction

9

0 ppm PA; RBD w/ 2.5% Clay

6 5 4

4.9 4.2

5.1

5.0

5.2

3.8

3.8

3 2

1.9

1.6

1.3

1 0

Natural Clay USA

Acid Clay Europe 2

Acid Clay Asia 1

No Clay

Figure 6: Processing effects – acid clays vs natural clay, USA

Starting Level 6.0 PPM 4.0 3.5

GE Concentration PPM

set out to explore the major influences contributing to the formation of MCPD and GEs. Clay demand and acid levels needed to achieve target colour (3 red) and phosphorous (4ppm) specs were determined. The negative impact of phosphoric acid strength (0ppm, 350ppm and 1,000ppm), clay pH (natural vs acid clays), and ‘no clay’ effect on the formation of MCPD FEs was observed (see Figure 6, previous page).

3.0

SupremeTM Pro-Active 0.30%

2.5

SupremeTM Pro-Active 0.60%

2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0

@ 245°C

@ 210°C

Figure 7: Post treatment deodorisation temperature effect on GE levels

formation of MCPDs and GEs. ● This article is based on the paper, ‘Impact of bleaching process protocols on 3-MCPD fatty esters in palm oil’, presented by David

Brooks, chief research scientist for Oil-Dri Corporation of America, to the 2017 Latin American Congress and Exhibition on Fats, Oils and Lipids (LAOCS) in Mexico

www.ofimagazine.com

07/06/2019 17:01:37

BLEACHING EARTHS

Moving towards natural clays Natural bleaching earths pre-blended with steam activated carbons have been shown to be a beneficial alternative to acid-activated bleaching earths in removing undesirable components during edible oil refining Pat Howes

Another undesirable acid-catalytic property is the enhancement of the formation of unwanted components such as 3-MCPDs. The desire to limit non-specific catalytic reactions in the oil is one of the drivers in the trend away from acid-activated bleaching earths and acidic surfacemodified bleaching earths, towards natural non-acidic bleaching earths.

There are a range of non-acidic natural

clays that are utilised as bleaching earths, including attapulgite, sepiolite, and bentonite, and other clays and their related intergrowth materials.

Attapulgites, although good at removing many impurities, are often not the most cost-effective option, due to their high oil retention. Sepiolites like attapulgites can be good natural clays, but also have high oil retention and low bulk density.

Attaplugites crystals are needle-shaped, u

Acid-activated bleaching earths have historically been the materials of choice for the bleaching of edible oils.

‘Bleaching’ earth is actually not a good name for the material, as bleaching earths are multi-functional absorbent/adsorbent, catalysts and ion-exchange media. The removal of both primary – and secondary – oxidation products, gums, soaps and trace metals are some of the additional beneficial features of bleaching earths.

In recent years, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, 3-monochloropropane diols (3-MCPDs) and glycidyl esters (GEs) have been added to the list of undesirable components that need to be removed or reduced.

Bleaching earths and related absorbents play an important role in removing these impurities.

The catalytic properties of acidactivated bleaching earths help them to decompose the hydro-peroxides, and to crack and protonate pigments that may not otherwise be absorbed within the bleaching earths.

The downside of the catalytic properties includes the promotion of double-bond shift, and conjugation of double bonds, which reduces the oxidative stability of oils that contain polyunsaturated fats, such as soyabean and canola oils. For instance, the conjugation of three double bonds may increase the oil’s oxidation rate by 25 times.

Acid-catalytic cis- to trans-isomerisation at double bonds also occurs, resulting in unhealthy trans-isomers. Trans isomers adversely affect the cloud point of the oil. In relation to palm oil, they reduce the olein yield by about 0.1% to 0.2%.

Catalytic polymerisation of the unsaturated components in the oil leads to an increase in the oil’s viscosity, which is also undesirable. www.ofimagazine.com

bleaching earths NEW.indd 5

OFI – JUNE 2019

27

07/06/2019 17:01:38

BLEACHING EARTHS

Activated carbons are used to absorb impurities during bleaching of edible oils and are commonly made from coconut shell, coal and wood u Sepiolites are fibrous, whereas bentonites

are flat flakey platelets. If you taste some sepiolite-based bleaching earth, your tongue will feel like it has been in contact with fibreglass.

It should be noted that the irritant properties of those attapulgites and sepiolites do not adversely affect the quality of the oil, they are used to refine.

Bentonite and its related intergrowth materials do not generally contain fibrous silicas or other harmful silicas. The bulk density of bentonites is higher than that for attapulgites and sepiolite, and the oil retention for bentonites is lower than that for attapulgite, sepiolite and acid-activated bentonites. For these reasons, many refiners prefer bentonite-based natural bleaching earths.

The benefit of the natural clays is that they do not act as solid acid catalysts.

Instead their main action is by absorption/ adsorption of the pigments, primary and secondary oxidation products, residual gums, trace metals etc.

There are differences in absorption properties between natural and acidactivated bleaching earths. Natural clays have a lower pore volume than acidactivated bleaching earths. The average pore size of natural bentonite type clays is larger than that of acid-activated bentonite, due to the different cationic composition of the two materials.

Natural clays can absorb larger molecules than acid-activated bleaching earths, which is beneficial for the removal of larger components from some poor quality oils.

In addition to bleaching earths, there are other natural or non-acidic materials that are used for absorptive 28 OFI â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JUNE 2019

bleaching earths NEW.indd 6

bleaching. Activated carbons are one such absorbent.

Activated carbons

Activated carbons have been available for some time, and have been utilised for the absorptive bleaching of edible oils. Acidactivated carbons tend to give the lowest freshly refined oil colours, but give poorer refined oil stability. Steam-activated carbons are slightly more expensive, and generally give a fully-refined oil of crisper appearance and better stability.

Historically, the main problems with activated carbons have been their price, high oil retention, and their friability, leading to fines that are difficult to filter from the oil.

Part of the problem is that the most appropriate activated carbons have not been selected. Normally, refiners would seek activated carbons of high methylene blue (MB), high iodine value (IV), or high carbon tetrachloride (CTC) value, as these have the highest absorption capacity.

However, activated carbons of the highest absorptive capacity have the weakest structures, and more easily break down in pumps and other equipment when utilised at the refinery, leading to problems with fines.

To overcome this problem, it is best to select activated carbons that have the desired mechanical strength. These tend not to be the activated carbons with the highest MB, IV, or CTC. Not only would the lower MB, IV and CTC material have greater mechanical strength, but they could also exhibit a greater bond strength, for the removal of the undesirable impurity, as compared with activated carbons with the highest

MB, IV and CTC. Lower MB, IV and CTC activated carbons have a lower oil retention, which approaches that of attapulgites.

Activated carbons are made from a wide range of substrates; commonly used materials are coconut shell, coal and wood. Each activated carbon has its own pore size distributions, covering micro-, meso- and macro-pores.

Ideally, the refiner needs to match the porosity of the absorbent with the sizes of the impurities they wish to remove.

The formulation of bleaching earths with activated carbons provides a range of pore sizes. Optimisation is not an easy task for the refiner, especially when the composition of the oil being refined changes with time/batch.

Some bleaching earths producers utilise a number of activated carbons in their blends with natural bleaching earths. In this way, the impurity removal properties of the pre-blended bleaching earth with activated carbons will have the ability to absorb the widest range of impurities.

Pre-blended natural bentonite type bleaching earth, with the mechanically stronger activated carbons, can have a similar oil retention to acid-activated bleaching earths, while maintaining particle integrity and optimising absorptive performance.

Increased challenges

In recent years, the challenges for refiners have increased. In addition to the removal of pigments, oxidation products, gums and trace metals, refiners now need to remove PAHs and dioxins, and mitigate 3-MCPDs and GEs. Activated carbons are good at removing PAHs, dioxins and chlorine and chlorine- containing compounds.

The formation of 3-MCPDs has been attributed to acid-catalytic reaction of chlorine/chloride with the partial glycerides present in the oil. Activated carbons blended with natural bleaching earths have been shown to reduce the formation of 3-MCPDs. This action has, in part, been attributed to the lack of acidcatalytic behavior in the natural bleaching earth and steam-activated carbon blend, and to the removal of chlorine/chloride by the activated carbon.

Natural bleaching earths pre-blended with steam activated carbons have been shown to be a beneficial alternative to acid-activated bleaching earths for refining edible oils, while minimising the formation of undesirable components such as PAHs, dioxins and 3-MCPDs. â&#x2014;?

This article was written by Dr Pat Howes, technical director at Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Natural Bleach Sdn Bhd www.ofimagazine.com

07/06/2019 17:01:47

BIOFUELS

Focus on USA Many American companies have propelled the production and use of biofuel, making the USA the world’s largest biofuel producer. However, commercialising the product faces challenges Mahmood Ebadian and James D McMillan

T

he US economy remains highly dependent on liquid transportation fuels primarily derived from petroleum. In 2016, the USA had about 21% of the world’s registered vehicles (268.8M from motorcycles to buses) and accounted for about 20% of the world’s oil consumption. The transportation sector represents a primary user of energy in the USA, comprising 29% of total energy use, with 95% of this energy provided by fossil fuels.

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) was enacted in 2007 to enhance domestic production of fuels and reduce reliance on imports and use of fossil fuels, with its provisions to increase energy efficiency and the availability and use of renewable energy. The 2007 act amended the original Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) by targeting the increase of domestic biofuel production to 36bn gallons/year (BGY) by 2022. As depicted in Figure 1 (see following page), this comprises 15 BGY of conventional corn starch-based ethanol and 21 BGY of advanced, cellulosic and biodiesel biofuels www.ofimagazine.com

US biofuels 3pg.indd 2

(ie, 16 BGY of cellulosic biofuels, 4 BGY of advanced biofuels, and 1 BGY of biomassbased biodiesel).

Over the past decade, the RFS2 has accelerated production and use of biofuels in the USA, primarily conventional ethanol production from corn kernel starch but also conventional fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) biodiesel from oleaginous feedstocks. In recent years, the volume of cellulosic ethanol and renewable diesel (also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA)) has also increased.

In 2017, a total of 59.8bn litres of fuel ethanol were produced in the USA which also provided over 270,000 jobs. In 2015, about 454.6M litres of ethanol was imported into the USA and the total exported volume was about 364M litres.

US petrol consumption has increased in the past four years, from 8.7M barrels day (b/d) in 2012 to 9.3M b/d in 2016, leading to a 7% increase in ethanol demand for E10 blending, which has helped support the growth in production.

Corn is the primary feedstock for

ethanol production in the USA, and large corn harvests in recent years have contributed to increased production. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that the USA produced 15.1bn bushels of corn in the 2016/17 harvest year, 11% more than the 2015/16 harvest. Increased corn fields and stable corn prices helped to make growing conventional ethanol production from corn kernel starch more profitable. In 2017, about 30% of the total US corn crop was used to produce fuel ethanol.

The RFS has increased production and use of both FAME biodiesel and renewable diesel in the last 10 years. As shown in Figure 2 (following page), diesel biofuels production reached about 2.5bn gallons in 2017 compared to 215M gallons in 2010. This production level was achieved by 97 plants operating across 37 states. FAME biodiesel and renewable diesel compete for the same oleaginous feedstocks and the recent trend has seen renewable diesel starting to outcompete for the limited feedstock, meaning more renewable diesel (HVO/HEFA) production and less FAME biodiesel production.

Production volumes of dieselsubstituting biofuels are limited by the availability of oleaginous feedstocks. In 2016, over 5M tonnes of such feedstocks were used to produce diesel biofuels, 77% vegetable oils and 23% recycled/used u OFI – JUNE 2019

29

11/06/2019 11:47:40

u

BIOFUELS

Figure 2: Diesel biofuel production in the USA, 2010-2017 (based on EPA RIN data )

Source: EPA, 2018

Figure 3: Production of cellulosic ethanol, 2010-2017 (based on EPA RIN data)

Source: EPA, 2018

Figure 1: Volume targets for renewable fuels under revised RFS2

Source: EPA, 2017

Additionally, the US military increased its use of domestically manufactured aviation fuel and biodiesel as part of a national security imperative. However, while the US secretaries of agriculture and energy, and the Navy signed a memorandum of understanding in 2011 to commit US$510M to produce hydrocarbon jet and diesel biofuels, its future is under discussion.

u vegetable oils and animal fats. Soyabean

oil was the largest single feedstock. In 2016, 27,000 tonnes of soyabean oil was used to produce biodiesel, compared to 2.2M tonnes in 2015, an increase of 24%, and representing approximately 28% of total 2016 US soyabean oil production (over 10M tonnes).

Despite the substantial presence of conventional biofuels in the US transportation fuel market, the production of advanced cellulosic feedstock-based biofuels remains relatively small. Advanced biofuels production remains far below 30 OFI â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JUNE 2019

US biofuels 3pg.indd 3

original targets due to slower progress in scaling up and deployment of commercial production of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels. In 2017, production of renewable diesel, cellulosic biofuels, and biojet fuel was 453, 10 and 1.7M gallons respectively. Future production level growths depend on the ability to export, as well as on how fast cellulosic biofuels production can be increased.

Biofuels production in aviation will increase because of the global expansion of commercial flight and limited alternative options beyond low carbon biofuels.

Advances in biofuels

With the support from US federal and state agencies and collaboration among universities, national labs and companies, the science and technology for producing lower carbon renewable biofuels keeps moving forward. Recent examples of such advances include: Demonstration of commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production improving: In 2017, POET-DSMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pioneer cellulosic ethanol production facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa, began to routinely achieve corn stover conversion yields of 70 gallons ethanol/bone-dry tonne of biomass. More recently, POET-DSM announced it was going to add enzyme manufacturing to this facility.

Ethanol production from corn fibre being implemented in existing corn dry mills: Ethanol production from corn fibre has become an area of active R&D and commercialisation since 2014, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified corn kernel fibre as a crop residue, with routes now being commercialised to convert most of the corn kernel fibre by-product in dry mill ethanol facilities to ethanol. These technologies enable conventional corn ethanol dry mill plants to generate 2%-10% additional ethanol (cellulosic ethanol) from their captive fibrous residue stream(s).

Drop-in fuels by co-processing in petroleum refineries advancing: Coprocessing refers to the simultaneous processing of biogenic and fossil (petroleum) feedstocks, especially combined processing in existing petroleum refineries of biomass-derived bio-crudes or bio-oils with intermediate petroleum distillates such as vacuum gas oil (VGO). Co-processing is of interest because it can use existing fuel refining, distribution and storage infrastructure to produce lower carbon drop-in fuels.

Several labs and universities are active in co-processing R&D, and a few commercial refiners are exploring production. Current research is examining the potential www.ofimagazine.com

11/06/2019 11:47:41

BIOFUELS to do such co-processing using fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) or hydrocracking/ hydrotreating units in existing refineries.

Research suggests that co-processing of up to 20% biogenic oils with VGO may be possible in FCC units. The US DOE estimates that more than 36bn litres of renewable hydrocarbon fuels could be via co-processing using the 110 FCC units that already exist in the US. Commercialisation of ethanol from CO2/ syngas progressing: LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform enables regional production from local wastes and residues, including gases such as industrial flue gas, gasified biomass wastes and residues, biogas, and high-CO2 stranded natural gas. Founded in 2005 in New Zealand, the company relocated its headquarters to the USA in 2014.

Co-optimisation of fuels and engines: The US DOE’s crosscutting ‘Co-Optima’ initiative tackles fuel and engine innovation from a systems perspective to optimise performance and efficiency.

It seeks to improve transportation fuel economy by 15%–20%. Results indicate that increasing the efficiency of internal combustion engines, using renewable blending components, can increase the efficiency of both conventional and hybrid vehicles. Higher octane petrol is more efficient, but engines must be tuned to run on higher octane blends. By matching high octane fuels to high compression ratio engines, the auto industry can gain 3-4.5% in vehicle efficiency.

Algae-based biofuels: Algae have potential to support an advanced biofuels and biorefining industry in the USA, and the goal of US DOE BETO’s Advanced Algal Systems Program is to develop cost-effective algal biofuels production and logistics systems. Since reviving its algal biofuels programme in 2009, BETO has invested in research, development and demonstration projects tackling the barriers to economic scale-up of commercial algal biofuels. A recent report, ‘National Algal Biofuels Technology Review’ discusses the status and challenges to commercialise production of algal-based biofuels and bio-products in the USA. Feedstock development: Research in developing improved biomass/bioenergy crops that exhibit more favourable chemical compositions and are easier to convert to targeted biofuels is underway.

One example of alternative feedstock development is an effort to transform sugarcane and miscanthus into better www.ofimagazine.com

US biofuels 3pg.indd 4

feedstocks for producing biodiesel and biojet fuels by engineering these plants to produce higher levels of oil rather than sugar. In February 2018, the US DOE awarded a US$10.6M grant to the Renewable Oil Generated with Ultra-productive Energy cane (ROGUE) project, created by researchers from the University of Illinois, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Florida, and Mississippi State University. The USDA and DOE also support other projects to develop cost-efficient and reliable feedstock logistics and supply chains.

Challenges to production

Despite ongoing advances in conventional and advanced biofuels technologies, the industry faces challenges. Petroleum prices remain modest and future policies for renewable fuels remain highly uncertain.

Before US domestic petroleum production increased due to fracking, growing petroleum imports into the USA accounted for over 60% of total consumption. In recent years, this trend has impressively been reversed.

In 2017, US net imports of petroleum accounted for only 19% of US petroleum consumption, the lowest level since 1967.

In 2017, total net energy imports into the USA fell to 7.3 quadrillion British thermal units (quads), a 35% decrease from 2016.

The USA increased its fossil fuel exports over 2016 levels, with larger exports of crude oil (89% higher), petroleum products (11%), natural gas (36%) and coal (61%). Petroleum products currently comprise the majority (54%) of exports.

Coupled with the increase in domestic production of fossil fuels, continuing relatively low petroleum prices and an unclear carbon policy landscape are hindering further investment in conventional and advanced liquid biofuels. This situation is unlikely to change until the future of both RFS2 and the corporate average fuel economy vehicle efficiency standards are better understood. These policies remain under discussion for revision.

The high policy uncertainty coupled with low profit margin potential of advanced biofuels in the current market environment has prompted many companies such as Amyris to redirect their RD&D and business strategies towards renewable chemicals. Advanced biofuels producers have not been able to ramp up their production levels as quickly as originally expected and, as a result, advanced biofuels production substantially lags RFS2 targets. The obligated volumes specified in RFS2 have been revised down in recent years to reflect actual production.

In addition, the level of RD&D funding and commercial investments in biofuels has decreased compared to the last five years and it is unknown how soon they will pick up again.

Conclusions

Federal policies, state policies, California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard and many initiatives and financial supports provided by the USDA, US DOE, states and cities have propelled substantial production and use of biofuels in the USA, and have helped make the largest biofuels producer in the world.

However, recent changes in attitudes towards environmental protection and rising domestic petroleum production with relatively low petroleum prices present challenges to further progress.

Moreover, slow progress commercialising cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels technologies have led to lowered expectations of whether or not the biofuels industry will meet targets set by the RFS2.

Despite these obstacles, research is underway to tackle technical and commercial challenges. Government funding for advanced biofuels continues but future funding levels and priorities for R&D remain unclear.

Despite uncertainty about future policy, the biofuels industry strives to increase the production of cellulosic and other advanced biofuels. High levels of ethanol production (≥15 BGY (60bn litres/ year) are expected to continue in the USA’s roughly 200 corn dry mills, mostly conventionally from corn grain starch but increasingly also from ‘generation 2’ corn stover and ‘generation 1.5’ corn kernel fibre to also produce cellulosic ethanol. While the large-scale POETDSM dedicated cellulosic ethanol plant will continue to increase its production level, if current trends continue, the new volumes of cellulosic ethanol it produces will become eclipsed by conversion of corn fibre to ethanol in dry mills as conversion technology develops.

Production of conventional and advanced biodiesels (FAME and HVO/HEFA) and biojet fuels from oleaginous feedstocks is also anticipated to remain strong, with continuing production levels to be constrained by feedstock availability and price. ● This feature is based on the paper, ‘Biofuels Production and Consumption in the US: Status Advances and Challenges’, published in the May 2018 issue of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Task 39 newsletter OFI – JUNE 2019

31

11/06/2019 11:47:41

STATISTICS STATISTICAL NEWS FROM MINTEC Soyabean and sunflower oils

Soyabean oil prices continue to fall, 3% month on month (m-o-m) and 12% year on year (y-o-y). China has seen a slowdown in demand during its trade war with the USA, resulting in US 2018/19 ending stocks estimated up 127% y-o-y to 27.1M tonnes. The 2019/20 US harvest area is forecast down 5% y-o-y, resulting in a 9% decrease in oilseed production. Soya oil production is expected to remain the same at 11.1M tonnes. The stocks left over from 2018/19 will continue to weigh on soyabean oil prices into 2019/20, and so the production decrease will unlikely have an impact on the oil market.

Sunflower oil prices are down 6% y-o-y, following high production from Ukraine and Russia, where the 2018/19 season saw record exports and favourable growing conditions which continued into the 2019/20 season, resulting in sowing commencing ahead of the usual April/May schedule. Ukraine’s sunflower oil production is forecast down 2% y-o-y in 2019/20 but remains 11% up on the country’s five-year average. Russia’s production will rise 6%. Globally, 2019/20 is expecting a 1% increase in both production and export demand.

Vegetable oil prices (US$/tonne)

Biodiesel

Biodiesel prices continue to fall, down 13% q-o-q (DecFeb/Mar-May) and 8% y-o-y. Prices are following the soyabean market, which is currently experiencing a supply glut. Around 70% of global biodiesel produced uses soyabean as a feedstock. Brazil’s biofuel production rose 17% between January and March 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. This rise is expected to continue but is unlikely to offset the high supply of soyabeans.

Biodiesel prices (US$/L)

Fish oil

Fish oil prices in Peru, the largest global producer and exporter, have risen around 40% y-o-y, following the major feedstock anchovy. The Peruvian anchovy quota for 2019 has been reduced to around 2.1M tonnes from a previous quota of 3.3M tonnes for the first anchovy fishing season, representing a drop of 36% compared to same period previous year. Therefore, anchovy prices have been rising as supply is diminished. Current reports suggest a lower biomass of anchovy available in Peru.

Fish oil prices (US$/tonne)

Prices of selected oils (US$/tonne) 2017

Jan 19

Feb 19

Mar 19

Apr 19

May 19

Soyabean

829.0

718.8

736.8

720.7

711.2

704.1

Crude palm

690.0

585.5

588.4

557.9

564.7

534.5

Palm olein Coconut Rapeseed Sunflower

661.0

576.4

581.5

549.3

554.1

522.5

1,537.0

814.5

747.8

721.7

688.1

660.0

855.0

826.7

810.5

795.4

800.0

810.2

800.0

694.2

707.5

699.5

710.5

717.0

1,250.0

799.6

740.8

685.6

647.1

621.0

Average

946.0

717.0

702.0

676.0

668.0

653.0

Index

224.0

170.0

166.0

160.0

158.0

155.0

Palm kernel

32 OFI – JUNE 2019

stats june.indd 1

Mintec works in partnership with sales, purchasing and supply chain professionals to deliver valuable insight into worldwide commodity and raw materials markets using innovative technology and a knowledgeable team of specialists. We provide independent insight and trusted data to help the world's most prestigious brands to make informed commercial decisions.

Tel: +44 (0)1628 851313 Email: sales@mintecglobal.com Web: www.mintecglobal.com

www.ofimagazine.com

11/06/2019 11:52:05

Every bean is precious.

Treat it that way.

Bühler’s process technology and associated equipment for soybean dehulling is setting highest efficiency standards.

At every stage – cleaning, heating, popping, cracking, hull separation and subsequent flaking – the machinery works seamlessly together to minimize total cost of ownership and to achieve highest yields from both, freshly harvested and highmoisture soybeans.

Find out more: www.buhlergroup.com/oilseeds oilseeds@buhlergroup.com

Innovations for a better world.

ARTE E GENIO ITALIANI

ITALIAN

MIND HEART, HAND

The Italian first class engineering company, globally recognized as one of the leaders in the design and manufacture of plants for oilseeds crushing and solvent extraction, edible oils and fats refining, glycerine distillation, oleochemicals (fatty acids, biofuels) and special plants.

Each industrial unit is fully in-house designed in all its true intimate aspects, from the the technological concept to the very final completion on site.

OUR KNOWLEDGE AT YOUR SERVICE.

www.andreottiimpianti.com