
Pre-esterification of low-FFA feedstock
Boost profits by processing low-FFA feedstocks in your existing asset with minimal CAPEX using Novonesis enzymatic pre-esterification.
Boost profits by processing low-FFA feedstocks in your existing asset
Like many biodiesel plant operators, you want to start processing low-FFA feedstocks, such as used cooking oil and tallow, at the lowest possible capital cost. To accomplish this, many producers build acid esterification or deodorization pre-treatment to process feedstocks in their existing chemical transesterification plants. However, these technologies for pre-treatment of low-FFA feedstocks require high acid dosage and energy consumption, long reaction times, and significant CAPEX expenditures.
You can overcome these challenges and start processing low-FFA feedstocks prior to transesterification at a low cost and with minimal CAPEX with enzymatic pre-esterification.
In this process, low FFA feedstocks are pretreated with NS 400281 and then co-processed with chemical transesterification for on-spec biodiesel. NS 400281 is well-proven to convert feedstocks with up to 15% FFA to crude FAME with <1% FFA.

Feedstock-specific pretreatment is accomplished using bolt-on batch or continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR) for a 150 TDP plant at ambient pressure and temperature, and delivers a number of benefits:
- Up to €2.0 million more profit per year from low-FFA feedstocks
- CAPEX as low as zero provided that the required reactor capacity is made available
- An optimized enzyme dosage of <1kg per ton of feedstock
With our FlexFit® process, Novonesis engineers can help you identify the best ways for your plant to maximize profits and transition to feedstock flexibility with our NS 400281 biocatalyst.
Learn more about Novonesis enzymatic biodiesel refining routes:
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