how is BIODIESEL made?

The process of converting vegetable or animal oils into biodiesel is known as transesterification. This involves the removal, via a catalytic reaction, of the glycerol component from the triglyceride (oil or fat) and replacing it with alcohol groups. Transesterification produces a low viscosity, mono-alkyl ester that serves as an ideal substitute for petro-diesel.

The process yields another valuable product called glycerine, used for animal feed, pharmaceuticals and as an additive for many other products.

Transesterification, and other related chemistry used or developed by Australian Biodiesel Group Limited, delivers improved viscosity and combustion properties as well as producing a very clean fuel with excellent lubricity.

The chemistry of transesterification has been well understood for many years. However, until recently, the leading technologies have been extremely expensive and/or cumbersome due to inconsistent production quality. In Europe, this issues is dealt with by limiting the preferred feedstock for biodiesel produced there to canola oil.

Australian Biodiesel Group Limited has developed its own plant design, known as Modular Continuous Transesterification Process (MCTP). MCTP is highly efficient and is able to accept a wide variety of feedstock materials, from high saturated fats to used cooking oil (UCO) as well as higher quality (and priced) oils such as canola, soy and palm.

In Australia, Australian Biodiesel Group Limited manufactures biodiesel using tallow as the base feedstock. Tallow is a sustainable and abundant resource.