Soluciones Integrales de Combustión finalizes the conversion of a natural gas burner to biodiesel in a food plant dedicated to the production of citrus juices, with the aim of reducing polluting emissions from the plant, thanks to the low carbon footprint of biodiesel, capable of avoiding CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

Thus, the exclusive use of biodiesel as fuel in one of the two existing boilers instead of natural gas will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, since it is a liquid biofuel of biological origin (mainly vegetable oils, although it also may be of animal origin), with the aim of increasing the sustainability of the production plant.

The conversion of the burner from natural gas to biodiesel carried out by Integral Combustion Solutions promotes the use of biodiesel in the food industry. The process entails the mechanical operations of changing the entire injection system of pumps, pipes, pipes, etc., which have been made of stainless steel.

Biodiesel, renewable fuel

Biodiesel is a liquid biofuel obtained from natural lipids such as vegetable oils or animal fats, used to replace fuels obtained from petroleum. In this way, it represents a new source of renewable energy.

The use of biofuels has recently increased given its importance in reducing the carbon footprint and in the energy transition. The application of biodiesel together with bioethanol has a greater role in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise.

The rise of biodiesel worldwide is explained by the fact that it is a clean and affordable fuel. Numerous studies indicate that its CO2, SO2 or CO emissions, among others, are lower than those of other fuels. In fact, institutions such as the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimate that CO2 reduction ranges from 57% to 86%. This makes it a very interesting alternative in production and transport processes.

Latest technological trends in biodiesel

The latest Technological Surveillance report on biomass for the bioeconomy includes international patents registered in the third quarter of 2022 in biofuels, including the latest trends in biodiesel.

Bulletin no. 44 produced by the OEPM, in collaboration with Ciemat, Bioplat, and the State Research Agency, reviews the biodiesel patents of the last quarter

• China Petroleum & Chemc Corp (CN). Microchannel liquid-liquid mixing device. 
• Gangneung Wonju Nat Unv. Ind. Acad Coop Group (KR). Method for producing biodiesel from biomass.
• Korea Inst Energy. (KR). Methods for preparing and producing biodiesel with catalysts.
• Refuel Solutions (IT). Method and device for using biodiesel in diesel internal combustion environment. 
• Shell Int. Research (NL). Use of a diesel fuel composition.
• Synthetic Genomics (US). Recombined algae with high productivity lipids.
• Univ. Estadual Londrina (BR). Application process of rosemary extract as a protector in the oxidation of biodiesel in the presence of copper ions.
• Univ. Federal Rio Grande del Norte (BR). Process for obtaining biodiesel through the use of a ponkan tangerine skin catalyst (white citrus reticulata)
• Univ. Teknologi Malaysia UTM. (MY). A catalyst, preparation and use thereof.

Contribution of Soluciones Integrales de Combustión to biodiesel

The contribution of the Spanish energy engineering company Soluciones Integrales de Combustión to the biodiesel value chain is specified in the final phase of energy use of biodiesel in plants and thermal combustion plants, for which it designs the solution, executes the supply of the equipment for the installation and commissioning and start-up, maintenance and repair of facilities that operate with this fuel. The company also carries out the implementation of the instrumentation and control system of the plants.