Crude Glycerine 80% (Animal Fat/USA Origin)

Brief Overview

Crude glycerine is characterized by its thick texture, inherent sweetness, and color spectrum ranging from light yellow to dark brown. It is derived from both natural and synthetic feedstocks and is present in animal fats as well as vegetable oils and fats in the form of triglycerides. This byproduct is obtained from the processes of oleochemical and biodiesel production.

Urgent shift toward renewable energy sources has led to a substantial rise in biodiesel production, subsequently increasing the output of crude glycerine. Typically, standards for crude glycerine require an 80% glycerine concentration, with the remaining content comprising impurities such as water, methanol, soap, catalyst, salts, and non-glycerine organic materials.

Manufacturing Process

Degumming

Degumming stands as a pivotal stage in the refinement of vegetable oil, entailing the centrifugal extraction of phosphatides. The introduction of water induces the precipitation of dissolved phosphatides, rendering them denser and facilitating efficient separation through centrifugation. This meticulous process not only rids the oil of impurities but also elevates its overall quality.

Deacidification

Moving on to the subsequent phase of deacidification, this step utilizes solvent extraction to diminish the concentration of free fatty acids in vegetable oils. The introduction of methanol plays a crucial role in dissolving these acids, serving as a critical measure to prevent oil oxidation and mitigate unpleasant odors. This process is indispensable for extending storage life and refining the oil. 

Transeferication/Saponification

Following the deacidification phase, the deacidified oil undergoes transesterification/saponification, an intricate process involving hydrolysis. Executed under heightened temperature and pressure in the presence of water, this step disassembles triglyceride chains into glycerol/glycerine and fatty acids. Beyond rendering glycerine accessible for extraction, this step sets the foundation for subsequent refinement processes.

Feedstock

With a high ratio of metabolizable digestible energy that similiar to soybean oil, crude glycerine becomes a desirable source of energy for for farms that raise cattle and other herbivorous animals.

Chemical intermediate

Remaining crude glycerine undergoes intricate thermochemical transformations, assuming the role of an intermediary chemical in the production process. The method of hydrogenolysis is employed to meticulously convert crude glycerine into the final product—propylene glycol. This compound, esteemed for its versatile functionality as both an effective antifreeze agent and a potent fuel additive, proves invaluable in the context of methanol-fueled vehicles.

Composting

Through diverse biological transformations, crude glycerine can be incorporated into composting. The fermentation of crude glycerine with the bacterium Anaerobiospirillum succinic results in the production of succinic acid. Ongoing investigations have also suggested the potential for algal fermentation to yield omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from crude glycerine.