The latest project is the fourth between Technip and Diester Industrie.

The Esterfip process was developed by the French Institute of Petroleum (IFP) and commercialized by Axens. The current process, Esterfip-H (also developed by IFP), uses a heterogeneous catalyst (the “H”)—a spinel mixed oxide of two (non-noble) metals.

Heterogeneous Esterfip-H process requires neither catalyst recovery nor aqueous treatment steps.

The use of heterogeneous catalysts eliminates the need for catalyst recovery and washing steps—and associated waste streams—required by processes using homogeneous catalysts such as sodium hydroxide or sodium methylate.

The dual fixed-bed reactor Esterfip-H process is based on a solid catalyst, and continuous. It produces glycerol with extremely high purity of >98%, and a very high ester yield of close to 100%.

There is no waste production of low-value fatty acids, no water saline streams requiring disposal, and no consumption or handling of chemicals. It also features a lower catalyst requirements per ton of biodiesel produced than other processes.

The Esterfip-H process has been chosen recently for two other large biodiesel projects: the 165,000-tonnes/year (50 million gallons US) Beatrice Biodiesel plant in Nebraska; and the Perstorp Oxo 160,000-tonnes/year plant in Sweden.

Resources:

• Axens: Global Motor Fuel Changes: Pool Components & Technologies for the Future

• IFP: Biodiesel 2nd Generation Technology

• IFP video on Esterflip-H