AGT system turns low-cost byproducts into high-quality biodiesel
Photo: Alfa Laval
February 11, 2013
BY Alfa Laval
Alfa Laval introduces its Advanced Glycerol Treatment system, a prefabricated, turn-key biodiesel pretreatment solution for virtually any existing transesterification plant—scalable for a capacity of 400 to 40,000 gallons per day. The AGT system allows for source material flexibility as it increases vegetable and animal byproduct value by reducing the free fatty acids (FFA) content down to 0.8 percent, resulting in higher quality oil which is then easily processed into biodiesel fuel.
Knowing that byproduct or feedstock prices represent the bulk of biodiesel production costs, the Alfa Laval AGT system provides feedstock flexibility to the price-volatile edible oil spot market—where processors now have flexibility to shop the fat and oil market for the lowest possible raw material cost—increasing overall plant profitability.
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The Alfa Laval AGT system also provides flexibility on the plant output side. Processors can tap off the biorefined oil at different stages of production and upgrading—i.e., when biodiesel is traded as an oleochemical (pharmaceuticals and cosmetics), forwarded to off-site biodiesel producers, or processed as monoglycerides and diglycerides treated oil, which is then ready for mixing as heavy fuel oil.
The modular, prefabricated AGT pretreatment plant is characterized by low operational costs, high yield, heat recovery, low waste and emissions. No catalyst is needed, and it provides optimum use of surplus biodiesel glycerol output.
Alfa Laval is a leading global provider of specialized products and engineering solutions based on its key technologies of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling. The company’s equipment, systems and services are dedicated to assisting customers in optimizing the performance of their processes. The solutions help them to heat, cool, separate and transport products in industries that produce food and beverages, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, starch, sugar and ethanol. Alfa Laval’s products are also used in power plants, aboard ships, in the mechanical engineering industry, in the mining industry and for wastewater treatment, as well as for comfort climate and refrigeration applications.
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Alfa Laval’s worldwide organization works closely with customers in nearly 100 countries to help them stay ahead in the global arena.
Alfa Laval is listed on the Nasdaq OMX, and, in 2012, posted annual sales of about SEK 29.8 billion (approx. $4.7 billion dollars). The company has today about 16,400 employees.
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