Biodiesel Centrifuge

Industrial Centrifuge Applications in Biodiesel Production

The biodiesel production process uses industrial centrifuges in most of the production steps. The list below explains each step with the corresponding centrifuge application.

Biodiesel Glycerol Separation

Post reaction is essential to separate the two immiscible liquid phases (biodiesel and glycerol) to get pure biodiesel. It is critical to remove all traces of glycerol and any sediment to reduce the load on the next process step.

Industrial centrifuges are a proven way to separate the two liquids at this stage. Alfa Laval industrial centrifuges (disc-stack type) generate a high centrifugal force on the fluid. This force separates the glycerol from the biodiesel to produce ASTM grade biodiesel. Especially in cases where virgin vegetable oils are the feedstock.

Biodiesel Wash Water Separation

Biodiesel produced using WVO or animal fat needs a further step to remove any remaining impurities. A simple water wash polishes the biodiesel to ASTM purity level.

An industrial centrifuge is the best fit for the separation of wash water from biodiesel. High centrifugal force in the disc stack centrifuge separates the water from biodiesel. This separation is, again, a continuous, efficient process.

Advantages of a Centrifuge in Biodiesel Glycerol and Wash Water Separation

• It is a continuous process with the least operating costs.
• Mechanical separation extracts the most amount of biodiesel.
• Simultaneous separation of fine sediment.
• It affects fast separation under the high centrifugal force.
• The automatic process saves labor costs.

Biodiesel Final Polishing

Polishing the biodiesel removes tiny particulate matter from the finished biodiesel. In the case of water wash, trace amounts of water may still be present in the biodiesel. The centrifuge removes the water from the biodiesel at this polishing stage.

Advantages of Industrial Centrifuge in Biodiesel Polishing

• It allows for the removal of small particles without filters (filters tend to plug up).
• Wash water removal to produce 100% clear biodiesel.
• It helps break emulsions (if any).

Glycerin Clarification

Distilling separated glycerol recovers the methanol and produces glycerin. Pure glycerin has good resale value and is demand in the food and cosmetics industries.

Clarification of glycerin to remove small impurities makes it usable. A disc stack centrifuge has the required g-force to remove the finest trace particles from glycerin.

The advantages of using industrial centrifuges (listed above) are applicable for glycerin purification as well.

Technical Considerations for Biodiesel Centrifuge Design

Biodiesel production requires the use of methanol. This requirement, in turn, needs unique manufacturing specifications. Biodiesel centrifuge systems manufactured by Dolphin Centrifuge have the following features. We refer to these features as the ‘Biodiesel Kit.’

• VITON seals in all fluid contact areas.
• Direct-drive (friction-less) design for hazardous area installation.
• Teflon covered collecting covers.
• Electrical design for hazardous areas. (Class 1 Div 2 or Div 1)

Contact Dolphin Centrifuge to discuss your biodiesel or other centrifuge application.