Nippon Shokubai develops new biodiesel process

25 April 2008 11:30  [Source: ICIS news]

TOKYO (ICIS news)--Japanese chemical producer Nippon Shokubai has developed a new catalysis process to produce biodiesel and glycerine which creates less waste, the company said in a statement on Friday.

The new method would reduce the cost to build and maintain a plant by 10%, and also improved the ratio of converting vegetable oils into fatty acid ester, a biodiesel fuel, by 3% as compared to existing processes, it added.

In addition, the byproduct glycerine produced by this method is very high in purity (over 98wt%), and could be used as a feedstock for other chemicals without any refining, the firm said.

The company has conducted a pilot test at its plant to ensure compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, it said, but did not state if it had any plans to build facilities to produce the products.

By: Tomomi Yokomura
+65 6780 4359

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