Biodiesel production

Alfa Laval’s comprehensive product range provides complete thermal and separation solutions for pre-treatment, transesterification, washing, drying, methanol recovery and glycerin purification.

Pre-treatment

For generations, Alfa Laval has helped customers in the edible fats and oils industries to optimize their processes. Alfa Laval plate heat exchangers, high-speed separators and mixers are used in this initial phase, which removes impurities from vegetable oil feedstock.

Transesterification

Alfa Laval high-speed separators remove the glycerin from biodiesel. These separators also remove impurities and other harmful compounds that could affect biodiesel quality. Compact Alfa Laval heat exchangers help optimize processing yields as well as energy consumption.

Washing and drying

Compact Alfa Laval gasketed semi-welded and fully welded plate heat exchangers are ideal for use in biodiesel purification. Our inline static mixers provide a good washing effect. The high-speed separators ensure efficient water removal in one or two stages, and Alfa Laval decanter centrifuges deal with high solid concentrates, separating out salts.

Methanol recovery and glycerin purification

Glycerin is a by-product from biodiesel production during the transesterification process. The excess methanol from this glycerin by-product can be recovered using a combination of heat and condenser equipment.

The fully counter-current flow path in Alfa Laval plate condensers provides big benefits, leading to lower methanol temperatures, which in turn gives higher yields of methanol recovered.