OFI June 2021 by Quartz Business Media

OILS & FATS INTERNATIONAL JUNE 2021 ▪ VOL 37 NO 5

BLEACHING EARTHS Practical optimisation New feedstocks, new adsorbents

SOYABEANS Biofuels spur growth WWW.OFIMAGAZINE.COM

Cover June.indd 1

11/06/2021 13:29:52

CONTENTS

OILS & FATS INTERNATIONAL

IN THIS ISSUE – JUNE 2021 Bleaching Earths

FEATURES

NEWS & EVENTS

Plant, Equipment & Technology

Plant & technology listing 2021 OFI features a fully updated global selection of plant and equipment suppliers to the oils and fats industry, accompanied by a chart of company activities

New feedstocks, new adsorbents

With the EU currently looking at legislation to control levels of 3-MCPD esters, bleaching earths play an important role in mitigating this critical process contaminant

Finding value in waste Extracting oil from spent bleaching earth using solvent extraction can convert a waste product into one with value

Practical optimisation As the last stage in refining to remove traces of impurities and contaminants, a variety of practical steps can be taken to optimise the bleaching process

Comment

Soyabeans

Biofuels spur growth The biodiesel and renewable diesel sectors are playing an increasing role in shaping US consumption of soyabean oil

A win for plant-based dairy

News

Photo: United Soybean Board

Photo: Adobe Stock

Bleaching Earths

Photo: Adobe Stock

Merck scales lipids supply to meet COVID demand

Biofuel News

WTO agrees panel on EU palm-based biofuels ban

Renewable News

California effectively bans CBD in cosmetics

Biotech News

Ban on pesticides linked to bee deaths upheld by court

Diary of Events

International events listing

Statistics

www.ofimagazine.com

Contents June.indd 1

World statistical data

OFI – JUNE 2021

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EDITOR'S COMMENT

OILS & FATS INTERNATIONAL

VOL 37 NO 5 JUNE 2021

EDITORIAL: Editor: Serena Lim serenalim@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855066 Assistant Editor: Gill Langham gilllangham@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855157 SALES: Sales Manager: Mark Winthrop-Wallace markww@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855114

A win for plantbased dairy The burgeoning plant-based sector scored a win in May when the EU rejected draft legislation which would have imposed new restrictions on alternative dairy descriptions and packaging (see News, p8). Current European laws already ban the use of dairy terms for non-dairy products, such as ‘soya milk’ or ‘vegan cheese’. But Amendment 171 would have banned any “evocation” of dairy terms. It would have prohibited descriptions such as ‘creamy’ or ‘buttery’; images like a white beverage being poured into a glass; packaging formats such as milk cartons or butter blocks; or comparisons to dairy foods such as ‘half the carbon emissions of dairy butter’.

Sales Consultant: Anita Revis anitarevis@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855068

The amendment drew opposition from NGOs, food companies such as Unilever and Bunge, and even climate activist Greta Thunberg, and was withdrawn by the European Parliament from current EU negotiations over the Common Agricultural Policy.

PRODUCTION:

“This decision must signal the end of absurd labelling restrictions on plant-based foods across all levels of government in Europe,” Good Food Institute Europe policy manager Elena Walden has said.

Production Editor: Carol Baird carolbaird@quartzltd.com CORPORATE: Managing Director: Tony Crinion tonycrinion@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855164 SUBSCRIPTIONS: Elizabeth Barford subscriptions@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855028 Subscriptions, Quartz House, 20 Clarendon Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 1QX, UK © 2021, Quartz Business Media ISSN 0267-8853 WWW.OFIMAGAZINE.COM

A member of FOSFA Oils & Fats International (USPS No: 020-747) is published eight times/year by Quartz Business Media Ltd and distributed in the USA by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Oils & Fats c/o PO Box 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437 Published by Quartz Business Media Ltd Quartz House, 20 Clarendon Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 1QX, UK oilsandfats@quartzltd.com +44 (0)1737 855000 Printed by Pensord Press, Gwent, Wales

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Comment June.indd 1

The dairy lobby would be better off focusing on the merits of its products than fighting a trend that is here to stay. As well as presenting a ‘natural’ image, milk, butter, cheese and other dairy products have been consumed for thousands of years, providing an affordable source of protein, calcium, vitamins and nutrients. They benefit bone health, while dairy fats and their bioactive components may also play a protective role in health disease and stroke. At the same time, plant-based products are increasingly supported by consumers for their dietary/health benefits and their ethical/ sustainability credentials. Can the two sectors co-exist? Well, just as major meat companies like Tyson Foods, JBS, Marfrig and Smithfield Foods have taken stakes in alternative meat firms, leading dairy businesses have also been entering the dairy-free arena, including dairy leaders such as Danone, Lactalis and Arla Foods. Food majors are also offering dairy free versions of their brands, such as Unilever’s Magnum and Cornetto ice cream ranges. In the alternative meat sphere, fats and oils are used to add flavour, texture, richness and mouthfeel to plant-based meat products. In the non-dairy sector, vegetable oils have been used for many years in spreads and ice creams. Margarine has been around for some 150 years, evolving into spreads and now plant butters. The newer plant butters and vegan ice creams emphasise the quality, health profile, or ‘free from’ nature of their ingredients (non-genetically modified, with no artificial flavours, colours or additives). But many non-dairy products still utilise edible oils, a testament to their versatility as an ingredient, although somewhat ironic given the fierce environmental debate that surrounds oils such as palm and soya. Dairy versus plant-based? Which is really better for health and the environment? And which is the more natural, unprocessed product? It’s down to opinion and marketing, offering opportunities and challenges for all those involved. Serena Lim serenalim@quartzltd.com www.ofimagazine.com

10/06/2021 17:49:48

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NEWS IN BRIEF USA: Global agribusiness giant ADM announced on 10 May that it is planning to build a new US$350M soya crushing plant and refinery in Spiritwood, North Dakota. ADM said the 150,000 bushels/day complex would help meet increasing demand from food, feed, industrial and biodiesel customers, including renewable diesel producers. It was due for completion before the 2023 harvest. ADM said it was also planning to invest around US$25M in expanding refining and storage capacity at its crushing and refining facility in Quincy, Illinois. The expanded capacity was expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2022.

Merck scales lipids supply to meet COVID demand German science and technology company Merck has scaled up its production of lipids to meet demand for their use in COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, the company announced on 26 May. Merck supplies custom lipids and other critical components such as synthetic cholesterol for lipid nanoparticle formulations and works in collaboration with other companies using lipid-based technologies to formulate COVID-19 vaccines and treatment. As part of the move, the company said it had introduced a new synthetic cholesterol product nine months ahead of schedule. “With the introduction of our new SAFC synthetic cholesterol product, we have increased our capacity by 50 times,” Merck head of process solutions, life science, Andrew Bulpin said. Merck, which manufactures lipids in Germany, Switzerland and the USA, said it was one of only a few companies producing lipids in the

quantities needed to meet demand for mRNA therapeutics, including the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The new product launch followed the company’s acquisition of German-based mRNA contract development and manufacturing organisation AmpTec. Merck said it was working with more than 50 companies to support their efforts in the development and production of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, providing custom lipids, as well as other critical raw materials, processing equipment and services used in mRNA drugs and vaccines manufacturing. In early February, the company announced the extension of its partnership with BioNTech to significantly accelerate the supply of urgently needed lipids for use in the production of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

US agricultural start-up company Terviva has partnered with global food giant Danone to develop new food products using pongamia oil and plant protein, Global AgInvesting reported on 24 May. The agreement with Danone followed Terviva’s raising of US$54M to market pongamia trees, an oilseed plant grown in parts of Asia, the report said. Harvested for medicinal purposes for more than 1,000 years, the pongamia plant produced a seed related to lentils, pea and beans, Global AgInvesting wrote. However, its oil was unsuitable for

Photo: Adobe Stock

Terviva and Danone develop pongamia oil, protein

The pongamia seed is related to lentils, pea and beans

human consumption as it was toxic and had a disagreeable taste and odour due to bitter

flavonoid constituents. By using natural processing methods, Terviva had removed

the anti-nutritional elements to make the protein and vegetable oils derived from the pongamia suitable for food applications, Global AgInvesting said. This had resulted in a buttery cooking oil and a highly soluble plant-based protein, which had the potential to be used as a replacement for soya. Terviva had worked with farmers to plant pongamia trees on idle former citrus land in Florida; on former sugarcane land in Hawaii; and on land that was often left fallow due to poor soil conditions or lack of water in Australia and India, the report said.

New canola crush plants planned for Saskatchewan Three new canola crushing plants have been announced for Saskatchewan province, Canada, with a combined value of more than US$1bn, Global AgInvesing Media reported on 25 May. Global agricultural commodity firm Viterra was planning to build the world's largest canola crushing facility in Regina, Saskatchewan – a location with access to both canola seed and railways. The plant, with a crush capacity of 2.5M tonnes/year and an operational date of late 2024, would dwarf 4 OFI – JUNE 2021

General News June.indd 2

Viterra’s largest 1.1M tonnes/year crush facility in Eastern Canada. On 25 May, Ceres Global Ag Corp announced it was planning to build a US$350M canola processing plant in Northgate, Saskatchewan, which would have the capacity to process 1.1M tonnes of canola and refine more than 500,000 tonnes of canola oil for food and feed, annually. “While there are multiple drivers contributing to unprecedented demand for oilseed crush in North America, the most

important is the movement towards green energy and the need for vegetable oil as feedstock for the production of renewable diesel,” Ceres CEO Robert Day said. The plant was expected to become operational by the summer of 2024, Ceres said. Global ag giant Cargill also announced on 22 April that it would invest US$350M to build its own canola crushing facility in Regina, expected to be operational by early 2024. It would also modernise its two crushing units in Camrose and Clavet. www.ofimagazine.com

11/06/2021 09:09:59

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NEWS

Malaysia limits staff in palm oil mills, refineries The Malaysian government has limited workforce capacity in palm oil mills and refineries to 60% in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, AgriCensus reported on 26 May. The move was part of a stricter implementation of the Movement of Order Control (MCO) on agribusinesses and was announced in a government statement on 26 May, taking immediate effect. Failure to comply would be subject to legal action taken against businesses, Agri-

Census reported the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali as saying. He said other agri-commodity sectors – such as rubber, lumber, cocoa, pepper, kenaf and biodiesel – would also have to operate with a capacity of 60% of workers. “All industry players and employers must ensure that employees always follow the new standard operating procedures (SOP) that have been set. More frequent monitoring by employers on compliance

by employees should be implemented,” he said. The new ruling would be enforced in enclosed space such as mills and refineries while workers on oil palm plantations in open spaces could operate as normal, AgriCensus reported. Similar COVID-19 measures had been taken in the country during the first half of 2020, limiting the production of palm oil due to a lack of labour and leading to higher prices, according to AgriCensus.

A drop in India’s demand for vegetable oil is expected in the coming months due to the country’s second COVID-19 wave, AgriCensus reported on 7 May. Palm oil was expected to experience the sharpest decline as the country's hospitality sector – a key consumer of palm oil – was forced to close, AgriCensus wrote. However, demand for soft oils – mainly consumed by households – was expected to be less impacted. “Palm oil import demand is expected to slow down sharply in May and June as refiners stall buying due to lockdowns as the country tries to mitigate the devastating impact of COVID-19 infections,” Palm Oil Analytics owner and

IN BRIEF BRAZIL: Import duties on soyabeans, meal and oil have been suspended until the end of the year in a bid to halt inflation due to rising global commodities prices, Reuters reported the country’s agriculture ministry as saying on 19 April. The Ministry of Agriculture said rising international prices had put pressure on domestic prices, which had increased due to strong external demand and the continued devaluation of the real against the dollar. 6 OFI – JUNE 2021

General News June.indd 3

Photo: Adobe Stock

Indian imports to fall due to second COVID wave

India's second COVID wave is expected to hit vegetable oil demand

co-founder Sathia Varqa told AgriCensus. Preliminary import data for April recorded total edible oil imports at 1.1M tonnes, of which 756,000 tonnes was palm oil, according to Mumbai-based vegetable oil broker

Sunvin Group, with a decline in volumes expected over the next two months. Total inventories were reported at just below 1.69M tonnes on 1 April, according to data from the Solvent Manufacturers Association of India,

with that figure likely to shrink further in May due to falling imports. However, Indian palm oil imports were expected to rebound from July due to an anticipated increase in shipments from Malaysia, the report said. Meanwhile, there had been a sharp decline in sunflower oil imports due to tight supply from the Black Sea leading to rising prices, which in turn had caused buyers to switch to more affordable edible oils, AgriCensus wrote. Indian imports of Ukrainian sunflower oil had dropped by almost 34% in April – at 212,680 tonnes – compared to the previous month, according to Sunvin Group data, the report said.

Strikes put pressure on Argentine exports Oilseed and grain exports out of Argentina could be disrupted due to ongoing industrial action by workers demanding COVID-19 vaccines, AgriCensus reported. The country’s maritime and port federation FeMPINRA had launched a 24-hour strike on 20 May to demand vaccines for its workers, the report said. Grain receivers’ union Urgara had also announced its own 24-hour strike action, demanding COVID-19 vaccines for its workers. The unions had held meetings with government authorities but they had failed to reach a solution, a source told AgriCensus. Further action had been announced by 11 marine and logistics-based trade unions, with a 48-hour strike scheduled for 26 May. The ongoing industrial action had paralysed

grain shipments at ports in the Rosario hub and also in the Atlantic ports of Quequén and Bahía Blanca, the report said. Meanwhile, seven grain ships stranded in shallow water in the Port of Rosario were due to be towed free following the end of a strike by port workers, Reuters reported on 24 May. Captains of tugboats and other port workers had gone on strike to be classified as essential workers and qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine. Six of the seven stranded ships were loaded with soya meal, corn and other farm products but had been unable to leave once loaded due to shallow waters, the report added. Water levels on the Paraná River continued to decline due to dry weather, creating shipping challenges for Argentina, Reuters wrote. www.ofimagazine.com

11/06/2021 09:10:01

NEWS INDONESIA: US agribusiness giant Cargill announced on 3 June that it is planning to build a new US$200M palm oil refinery in Lampung, due for completion late next year. “This project is a key step to increase the availability of sustainably sourced and produced edible oil ingredients for our customers,” said Cargill’s Asia Pacific president Robert Aspell. Cargill entered the Indonesian market in 1974 with the establishment of a feed mill in Bogor, West Java, the company said. EUROPE: Leading oilseed processing company Bunge announced a lecithin distribution agreement with IMCD's food and nutrition division on 3 June. The deal between Bunge Loders Croklaan (BLC) and the speciality chemicals and ingredients distributor allows IMCD to distribute BLC's complete BungeMaxx lecithin portfolio in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The BungeMaxx lecithin portfolio comprised plant-based lecithin made from soya, rapeseed and sunflower seeds in fluid, deoiled, and fraction forms, including organic sunflower and soya options. It was suitable for a range of applications including chocolate confectionery, bakery, nutritional supplements and infant nutrition, Bunge said.

EU rejects new rules for plant-based dairy sector The EU has rejected draft legislation which would have imposed new restrictions on descriptions and packaging used by the plant-based dairy sector, FoodBev reported on 26 May. Current European laws already ban the use of dairy terms for non-dairy products, such as ‘soya milk’ or ‘vegan cheese’. However, Amendment 171 (AM171) would have had further implications for the alternative dairy sector, banning descriptions such as 'creamy' or 'buttery', FoodBev wrote. Images of plant-based foods that could be judged to be ‘evoking’ or ‘imitating’ dairy, would also have been banned, along with packaging formats such as milk cartons or butter blocks and comparisons such as “half the carbon emissions of dairy butter”, the report said.

Last year, the European Parliament had voted to reject a ban on plant-based products using names typically associated with meat products, but had voted in favour of a plant-based dairy ban, FoodBev wrote. AM171 had now been dropped by the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission, FoodBev said. The amendment had followed objections from NGOs, food companies such as Nestlé, climate change activist Greta Thunberg and other organisations, the report added. Meanwhile, the European Dairy Association said that the decision to uphold existing restrictions on the use of terms such as “vegan cheese” in the Common Agricultural Policy would continue to protect dairy industry products.

UK imports of Spanish olive oil fall post Brexit

Photo: Adobe Stock

IN BRIEF

The UK is Spain's fifth largest olive oil export market

Spain’s olive oil exports to the UK dropped 35% in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year, Olive Oil Times reported the country’s Union of Farmers and Livestock Unions as saying on 10 May. The UK imported about

US$167M of Spanish olive oil in 2020, making it Spain’s fifth largest export market. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which had been provisionally operational since 1 January when Brexit came into effect, was fully ratified in April, Olive

Oil Times wrote. According to figures released by the UK’s Office of National Statistics in March, imports from the EU had fallen by 28% in the first two months of the year as additional checks and bureaucratic hurdles had impeded the free flow of products. Total Spanish agri-food exports had fallen by 4.9% during the period, with sales of oils and fats being hit particularly hard, including the 35% drop in olive oil shipments, Olive Oil Times said. The Union of Farmers and Livestock Unions said a new requirement for phytosanitary certificates and border checks would also lead to a further slowdown of shipments and add to the cost and bureaucracy of post-Brexit trading.

CME permanently closes most physical trading pits The physical trading pits of global derivatives and commodities exchange CME Group that have been closed since last year due to COVID-19 will not reopen, the company announced on 4 May. However, CME said its Eurodollar options pit, which reopened in August, would remain open, allowing trade in both open 8 OFI – JUNE 2021

General News June.indd 4

outcry and electronic systems. Open outcry was popular in trading pits in the past, according to Investopedia. The verbal and hand signal communication used by traders at stock, option and futures exchanges are now rarely used, replaced by faster, more accurate electronic systems. Open outcry on benchmark Chicago

Board of Trade (CBOT) soyabean futures ended in 2015, according to Successful Farming, after it first began in 1936. The CBOT was set up in 1848 and was one of the world’s oldest futures and options exchanges. It merged with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) in 2007 to form the CME Group. www.ofimagazine.com

11/06/2021 09:10:04

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BIOFUEL NEWS MALAYSIA: The implementation of the B20 biodiesel programme in Sabah and Peninsula Malaysia has been postponed again for an indefinite period, The Edge Markets reported on 2 June. The mandate to manufacture biofuel with a 20% palm oil component – known as B20 – for the transport sector was rolled out in January 2020 and had been set to be fully implemented across the country by mid-June 2021. However, plans to step up the programme had been delayed last April due to curbs on movement imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest decision was due to the rise in COVID-19 cases as well as the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO), the report quoted sources as saying, who said B20 implementation was still ongoing in Langkawi, Labuan and Sarawak without any changes. THE NETHERLANDS: Finnish renewable fuels producer Neste announced on 29 April that it is modifying its production capacity in Rotterdam to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The refinery currently produced mainly renewable diesel but would be able to produce up to 500,000 tonnes/year of SAF following the modification, scheduled for completion in the second half of 2023. Neste said its current SAF production capacity was 100,000 tonnes/year but would increase to 1.5M tonnes/year by the end of 2023 following the Rotterdam investment and ongoing expansion of its Singapore refinery. The company was also waiting for a final investment decision on its plan for a new renewable products refinery project in Rotterdam towards the end of this year or early 2022. 10 OFI – JUNE 2021

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WTO agrees panel on EU palm-based biofuels ban The World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed to set up an expert panel to review complaints surrounding the European Union (EU)’s decision to ban palm oil-based biofuels, AgriCensus reported on 1 June. The move had initially been delayed as the EU had blocked complaints from Malaysia but, under WTO rules, any request to investigate trade restraints could only be turned down once. Palm oil remained a competitive feedstock in some EU countries but several – such as Germany, Belgium and Austria – had moved to ban palm oil in biodiesel ahead of the EU’s mandated 2030 phase-out date, AgriCensus wrote. Malaysia had first requested a WTO arbitration panel in January claiming that the EU, and

in particular France and Lithuania, had imposed restrictive measures on the use of palm oil in violation of international trade agreements. The EU had blocked this initial demand for the formation of a panel, claiming that its curbs on palm oil were environmental laws permitted under trade rules, AgriCensus said. The EU’s Delegated Regulation 2019/807 defines palm oil as a high risk indirect land use change (ILUC) biofuel feedstock, which must be capped at 2019 levels until 2023 and then phased out by 2030. Malaysian palm oil-based biodiesel exports to Europe had dropped substantially this year, to around half the total shipped at this stage last year, according to AgriCensus (see story below).

IAG commits to 10% SAF target by 2030 Multinational airline company International Airlines Group (IAG) has made a commitment to fly 10% of its fleet with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. The group said on 22 April that it would purchase 1M tonnes/year of SAF in a bid to cut its annual emissions by 2M tonnes by 2030. “It’s clearly challenging to transition to a low carbon business model but, despite the current pandemic, we remain resolute in our climate commitments,” IAG chief executive Luis Gallego said. IAG is investing US$400M in the development of SAF in the next 20 years. The group is partnering with SAF developers, LanzaJet and Velocys. Plans also include a household waste-to-jet fuel plant in the UK, due to start operations in 2025. IAG is the parent company of British Airways (BA) and the group said BA would also be using

Photo: Pixabay

IN BRIEF

IAG, which has committed to the use of 10% SAF by 2030, is the parent company of British Airways

SAF from LanzaJet’s US plant to fuel some of its flights from late 2022.

EU palm biodiesel imports fall sharply

Biodiesel shipments from Indonesia to the EU fell by 83% in 2020 compared to 2019 to total 138,000 tonnes, Germany’s Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants reported from Eurostat/AMI data. Indonesia accounted for just over one-fifth of all EU biodiesel imports in 2019 but the share dropped to only 4% in 2020. At 476,000 tonnes in 2020, biodiesel shipments from Malaysia also fell about 43%.

The fall in Indonesian and Malaysian imports was partially offset by other countries such as China, which delivered more biodiesel in 2020 than Indonesia and Malaysia combined. In the 2020 calendar year, the EU imported a total of 3.1M tonnes of biodiesel from non-EU countries – a 16% year-on-year drop and down 13% compared to 2018, according to the report. The lower imports were due to a

decline in biodiesel consumption, which had fallen from 12.5M tonnes in 2019 to 11.4M tonnes in 2020. Argentina accounted for almost half of EU biodiesel imports (1.65M tonnes) two years ago but its share dropped to just less than one third (895,000 tonnes) in 2020. Meanwhile, the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) increased from 2.6M tonnes to 3.6M tonnes. www.ofimagazine.com

11/06/2021 09:15:54

RENEWABLE NEWS

California effectively bans CBD in cosmetics The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has amended an agency frequently asked questions (FAQ) document which effectively bans hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) in cosmetics, happi reported on 19 May. In the move, the CDPH had noted that the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considered the cannabidiol compound (CBD) an unapproved additive, which was also unapproved in dietary supplements and pet food, the report said. California’s Sherman Food and Drug

USA: German chemical firm BASF announced on 1 June that it had concluded the sale of its Illinois manufacturing site of vegetable oil-based raw material sterols and natural vitamin E, anionic surfactants and esters. Financial details of the sale of the Kankakee site to an affiliate of US private equity firm One Rock Capital Partners were not disclosed. BASF acquired the Kankakee site and its businesses from Cognis in 2010. Following the sale, a new standalone company, named Kensing, had been formed, BASF said. BASF said it had retained its sterol ester food ingredient business in Illertissen, Germany, and would continue to focus on creating food ingredients and formulations. USA: Coconut water brand Vita Coco has launched a new haircare range featuring products containing coconut oil and water. Vita Coco said coconut water was a key ingredient in its Nourish range of shampoos and conditioners, while the conditioner and serum in its Repair range contained coconut oil. Established in 2005, Vita Coco said it started sourcing its coconuts from one farm in Brazil, but now worked with farmers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. 12 OFI – JUNE 2021

Renewable news June.indd 2

foods, drugs and cosmetics, according to the report. The CDPH noted that the FDA was in the process of determining whether commodities such as food, cosmetics and dietary supplements could safely contain CBD, happi wrote. However, the FDA had not currently approved the use of CBD in any of these products, the report said. The use of CBD for medicinal, personal care and food applications has been growing in recent years.

Renewable isododecane in cosmetics French green technology company Global Bioenergies announced on 4 May that it had launched a range of long-lasting cosmetics based on renewable isododecane. The firm has developed a process to convert plant-based feedstocks – including cane or beet sugar, starch or second generation farming and forestry waste – into isobutene, which was then converted into isododecane in several stages. It was now working on five collaborative projects, co-funded by the EU, to produce renewable isobutene, mainly from wheat straw, wood residue and industrial waste. Isododecane was the main ingredient in its comestics range, comprising 25-50% of formulations, the company said. “It is essential to give

Photo: Pixabay

IN BRIEF

Law stipulated that any food – including beverages and pet food – was adulterated if it contained an unapproved food additive, and that a cosmetic (including lotions and salves) was adulterated if it contained any poisonous or deleterious substance that could cause injury to users under the conditions of use in its labelling or advertising, or under normal conditions of use, happi wrote. CBD-derived from hemp or any other source was currently not allowed in any of the items regulated by the FDA, including

Global Bioenergies’ long-lasting cosmetics range includes eye shadow

the product the properties required for long wear,” Global Bioenergies CEO Marc Delcourt said. The 18 products in the LAST range of cosmetics,

which includes mascaras, eyebrow mascaras and eye shadows, was set to be launched in June, with expansion plans to include long-lasting lipstick later in the year.

Holiferm plans biosurfactant plant in 2022 UK biotech start-up Holiferm is planning to open its first commercial biosurfactant plant next year, the company announced on 6 May. Holiferm produces biosurfactants from renewable feedstocks, which are available in high and low foaming versions. The company’s sophorolipid production process is based on natural yeast fermentation, using vegetable oil and glucose as raw materials, according to its website. Holiferm said its aim was to develop and supply sustainable, non-fossil based, fermentation-derived ingredients for industrial and consumer products. Made using yeast from a Canadian honey bee hive, Holiferm said its sophorolipid had been

shown to be an effective and biodegradable non-toxic surfactant. In April, Holiferm successfully completed the installation and first run of its pilot bioreactor in Daresbury, which produced hundreds of kilograms of sophorolipid product. The 25 tonnes/year pilot sophorolipid plant meant it could now provide product for its smaller commercial partners while giving samples to its larger partners to test in their own pilot facilities, the company said. Holiferm said it was currently fundraising for its planned commercial 1,000 tonnes/year production facility, which would provide its larger commercial partners with sufficient quantities of sophorolipids for their product formulations. www.ofimagazine.com

11/06/2021 09:17:50

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• Process design • Crude oil processing • Pressing & Refining plants • Screw presses

www.ofimagazine.com

• Disc driers • Sterilizers • Meat slurry vessels • Spare parts & Services

OFI – JUNE 2021

BIOTECH NEWS EU: The European Commission (EC) is reviewing its legislation on new genomic techniques (NGT), saying “there are strong indications that the applicable legislation is not fit for purpose". In a report on 29 April, the EC defined NGTs as techniques capable of changing the genetic material of an organism that had been developed since 2001, when existing GMO legislation was adopted. It looked at NGTs in plants, animals and micro-organisms for agrifood, industrial and pharmaceutical applications and said that the technology – which included CRISPR/Cas – met the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy. It said that the follow up to its study should confirm whether adaptation to legislation was needed and what form it should take. MEXICO: The Collegiate Court has reversed a temporary lifting of a nationwide ban on glyphosate weedkiller, Reuters reports. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador issued a decree late last year seeking to ban the herbicide by 2024, Reuters wrote In April, a Mexican court granted Bayer a temporary relief from the ban as the German firm challenges the government plan. However, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources said in a 3 May statement that the Collegiate Court had “revoked” the provisional suspension. USA: House Foods America is planning to use non-genetically modified (GM) soyabeans at its proposed new US$146.3M facility in Kentucky to make tofu products, World Grain reported on 30 April. The subsidiary of Japan-based House Foods Group expected work to begin on the project next year with completion by 2025. 14 OFI – JUNE 2021

Biotech news June.indd 2

Ban on pesticides linked to bee deaths upheld by court The European Union Court of Justice (ECJ) has dismissed an appeal by German chemical giant Bayer to overturn its ban on neonicotinoid insecticides, which have been linked to harming bees, Bloomberg reported on 6 May. The EU imposed restrictions on three neonicotinoids – clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam – in 2013, saying they were “harmful” to Europe’s honeybee population. The restrictions have been blamed for falling rapeseed planted area and yields in the EU. Bayer and Swiss crop protection and seeds producer Syngenta had lost an earlier court battle in 2018, when the companies told judges the ban was forcing farmers to revert to potentially more harmful chemicals, Bloomberg wrote. In its latest decision, the ECJ ruled that the European Commission “is entitled to consider that a

risk to [bee] colonies could not be ruled out” even if there was “scientific uncertainty at this stage as to the rate of mortality of individual bees.” In 2018, EU governments voted to widen the neonicotinoids ban to apply everywhere, excluding greenhouses. Bayer said it accepted the 2018 decision but that it stood by the safety of its products, "which have been approved by regulatory bodies around the globe". Last year, France partially lifted the ban on neonicotinoids by allowing its use for seed coatings until 2023, after farmers suffered heavy losses from beet yellows virus spread by aphids that neonicotinoids helped control, Bloomberg said. Meanwhile, the European Food Safety Authority said in December it would assess 21 emergency authorisations by EU nations to use neonicotinoids for sugar beet crop.

Calyxt technology transforms hemp genome US plant-based technology company Calyxt announced on 29 April that it had successfully transformed the hemp genome, enabling future advancements in gene editing and advanced plant breeding. Calyxt said its technology could be used to improve the identification of plant behaviours and traits, which would allow hemp breeders to select new varieties for largescale production. “The hemp species as a whole has historically been a particularly difficult crop to transform,” Calyxt chief technology officer Travis Frey said. “This transformation opens the door to other advancements in hemp through gene editing.” Calyxt said the initial focus

Photo: Adobe Stock

IN BRIEF

Hemp is grown to produce cannabidiol (CBD) oil

would be on standardising the crop for large-scale adoption, reduced risk hemp production and modernising the breeding process. It was also exploring collaboration opportunities with partners looking to use

its technology in their hemp programmes. Hemp is grown for industrial purposes as well as to produce cannabidiol (CBD) oil, which is increasingly used in personal care and food products.

US appeal court supports Roundup cancer ruling A US federal appeals court has upheld a US$25M judgement finding that German chemical firm Bayer’s Roundup weedkiller caused a California resident’s non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Reuters reported on 15 May. The decision by the 9th US Court of Appeals on 14 May was a blow to Bayer’s hopes of limiting its legal risk over the product, Reuters said. Bayer inherited the lawsuits following its 2018 purchase of global agrochemical firm Monsanto.

Bayer’s argument that lawsuits like Edwin Hardeman's should not go to trial because federal pesticide laws barred allegations that the company failed to warn of Roundup's cancer risks had been rejected by the court, the news agency wrote. The latest ruling was the first by a federal appeals court in a case linking Roundup and cancer. Roundup is used by farmers in combination with Bayer’s genetically modified seeds. www.ofimagazine.com

17/06/2021 11:46:28

DIARY OF EVENTS 14-16 July 2021

5-6 October 2021

19-20 October 2021

18th Global Oleochem Summit Qingdao, Shandong, China https://webshow.ienmore. com/?activityId=1601&languageType=1

Future of Biofuels 2021 Copenhagen, Denmark https://fortesmedia.com/future-ofbiofuels-2021,4,en,2,1,13.html

Biofuels International Conference & Expo Brussels, Belgium www.biofuels-news.com/conference/ biofuels/biofuels_index_2020.php

2-3 September 2021

5-7 October 2021

2-4 November 2021

8th High Oleic Congress (Online) http://higholeicmarket.com/hoc-2019

Palmex Indonesia 2021 Medan, Indonesia http://palmoilexpo.com

World Ethanol & Biofuels Brussels, Belgium https://informaconnect.com/worldethanol-biofuels/

21-23 September 2021

5-7 October 2021

Processing of Cannabis/Hemp Plants and Refining of CBD Oil: Market, Regulations and Applications (Online) www.smartshortcourses.com/CBDoil2/ CBDoil.html

Plant Protein Science & Technology Forum Chicago, USA https://plantprotein.aocs.org/attend/ save-the-date-for-2021

22-23 September 2021

18-21 October 2021

Future of Surfactants Summit North America Boston, Massachusetts, USA www.wplgroup.com/aci/event/ surfactants-summit-america

18th EuroFed Lipid Congress and Expo (Online) https://veranstaltungen.gdch.de/tms/ frontend/index.cfm?l=10713&sp_id=2

23-25 September 2021 Globoil India Taj Convention Centre, Goa, India www.globoilindia.com

8-10 November 2021 AOCS Australasian Section Meeting Newcastle, Australia www.aocs.org/attend-meetings/ industry-events 9-10 November 2021

18-23 October 2021

5th International Symposium ‘Dietary Fat and Health’ Frankfurt, Germany https://veranstaltungen.gdch.de/tms/ frontend/index.cfm?l=9072

North American Renderers Association Annual Convention 2021 Greensboro, Georgia, USA https://nara.org/about-us/events/

National Biodiesel Conference & Expo https://www.nbb.org/

Sustainable

•

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www.ofimagazine.com

Diary June NEW.indd 1

OFI – JUNE 2021

14/06/2021 11:24:53

Science behind Technology

Extraction Hydrogenation

Other equipment

Screens & filtration

ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT

Storage & handling

End user processes/equipment

PROCESS PLANT & EQUIPMENT

Refining

Oilseed crushing mills Solvent extraction Fish oil/meal processing Rendering/fat melting plant Pelleting mills Other Degumming Winterising Crystallisation Oil distillation/fractionation Alkali & physical refining Interesterification Miscella refining Deodorisers Bleachers Oil dryers Fat splitting Fatty acid distillation/fractionation Other Hydrogen generators Hydrogen systems

l l l l

l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l

*Denote entries from 2020

China

SOLEX Thermal Science

Canada

Elica-elevator

Bulgaria

Pattyn Group

De Smet Engineers & Contractors

Desmet Ballestra Group

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l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l

Other Cooking/salad oils Butter formulation Shortening/margarine production Vitamin E production Lecithin production Suplhonation Ethoxylation/propoxylation Detergent formulation Detergent production Soap production Soap finishing Cosmetics production Glycerine refining Fatty acid derivatives Pharmaceuticals Biodiesel/methyl ester Other Pneumatic conveyors Belt conveyors Vibratory conveyors Slatted conveyors Elevators Loading arms/chutes Auger feeders Storage silos Storage tanks Other Screens Centrifugal separators Gravity separators Magnetic separators Membrane separators Filter presses Pressure leaf filters Other Packing equipment Instrumentation Pumps/fluid handling Vacuum systems/ejectors Process heating systems Steam boilers Thermal oil heaters Heat recovery systems Other

Belgium

Kemia Handels-und Projektierungs

GIG Karasek

BDI-BioEnergy International

Anton Paar

Austria: Andritz

Proglobal

Desmet Ballestra, proud sponsor of the 2021 OFI Plant & Equipment Guide.

Argentina

Plant & technology chart 2021: Sum

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

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OLEOCHEMICALS Methylesters • Glycerine • Biodiesel Fatty Acids • Fatty Alcohols

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VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen

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Rono Maschinenbau

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oilRoq

Maschinenfabrik Reinartz

Körting Hannover

INTEC Engineering

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Other

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HTI-GESAB

HF Press+LipidTech

GekaKonus

GEA Wiegand

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l l l l l l l l l l

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Cooking/salad oils Butter formulation Shortening/margarine production Vitamin E production Lecithin production Sulphonation Ethoxylation/propoxylation Detergent formulation Detergent production Soap production Soap finishing Cosmetics production Glycerine refining Fatty acid derivatives Pharmaceuticals Biodiesel/methyl ester Other Pneumatic conveyors Belt conveyors Vibratory conveyors Slatted conveyors Elevators Loading arms/chutes Auger feeders Storage silos Storage tanks Other Screens Centrifugal separators Gravity separators Magnetic separators Membrane separators Filter presses Pressure leaf filters Other Packing equipment Instrumentation Pumps/fluid handling Vacuum systems/ejectors Process heating systems Steam boilers Thermal oil heaters Heat recovery systems Other

Extraction

l l l l

Refining

l l l l l l l l l l l l

Hydrogenation

l l

Science behind Technology

PROCESS PLANT & EQUIPMENT

l l

l l l l l

GEA Westfalia Separator Group

l l

End user processes/equipment

Oilseed crushing mills Solvent extraction Fish oil/meal processing Rendering/fat melting plant Pelleting mills Other l Degumming l Winterising l Crystallisation l Oil distillation/fractionation l l Alkali & physical refining l v2-87x265General-OFI-2015.indd 1Interesterification l Miscella refining Deodorisers l l Bleachers l l Oil dryers l l Fat splitting l Fatty acid distillation/fractionation l l Other l l Hydrogen generators Hydrogen systems l l

l l

Storage & handling

l l

Screens & filtration

Egon Keller

Centrimax-Winkelhorst Trenntechnik*

Buss-SMS-Canzler

Bruker Biospin*

B+B Engineering

Germany

Serac

Promill

Olexa

France

SPX Flow Technology Danmark

Haarslev Industries

Gerstenberg Services

GEA Process Engineering

Denmark

Farmet

Czech Republic

ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT

l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l

Other equipment

l l l l l l l l l l l l

Myande Group

l l l l l

Guangzhou Scikoon Industry

Crown Asia Engineering

l l l l l

FAMSUN Oils&Fats Engineering

COFCOET

mmary table of company activities

Other equipment

Screens & filtration

ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT

Storage & handling

Hydrogenation & EQUIPMENT End user processes/equipment PROCESS PLANT

PROCESS PLANT & EQIUPMENT

Refining

l l l l l

Other

Suplhonation Ethoxylation/propoxylation Detergent formulation Detergent production Soap production Soap finishing Cosmetics production Glycerine refining Fatty acid derivatives Pharmaceuticals Biodiesel/methyl ester Other Pneumatic conveyors Belt conveyors Vibratory conveyors Slatted conveyors Elevators Loading arms/chutes Auger feeders Storage silos Storage tanks Other Screens Centrifugal separators Gravity separators Magnetic separators Membrane separators Filter presses Pressure leaf filters Other Packing equipment Instrumentation Pumps/fluid handling Vacuum systems/ejectors Process heating systems Steam boilers Thermal oil heaters Heat recovery systems Other

*Denote entries from 2020

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Ukraine: Tan LLC*

Turkey: Keller & Vardarci Industries

Sulzer Chemtech

Bühler

Buss ChemTech

l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Switzerland

Sweden: Alfa Laval Corporate

LIPICO Technologies

l l

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Singapore

Niverplast

Geelen Counterflow

Filtration Group BV-Amafilter-LFC Lochem

CPM Europe

l l l

Netherlands

l l

Oiltek*

INTEC Energy Systems

Malaysia

TECHNOILOGY

l l

Serbia: T-1 Ada*

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Macfuge Servizi Industriali

Desmet Ballestra

CM Bernardini International

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l l

l l l l l l

Binnachi & Co

Andreotti Impianti

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l l l

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Hydrogen systems Cooking/salad oils Butter formulation Shortening/margarine production Vitamin E production Lecithin production

l l l l l

Van Mourik Crushing Mills*

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Italy

Vendeep Oiltek Exports

United Engineering (Eastern) Corp

Sharplex Filters

Metech Process Engineers

Kumar Metal Industries

l l l l l

Muar Ban Lee Group

JJ-Lurgi Engineering

Extraction

India

Plant & technology chart 2021: Sum

l l l l l l l

l l l l l l

l l l

l l l l l l l l

l l

l l l l l l l l

l l

l l l

l l l l l l l

OLEOCHEMICALS Methylesters • Glycerine • Biodiesel Fatty Acids • Fatty Alcohols

The Dupps Company

Hydrogen systems

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l

l l l l l l l l l

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l l l l l l l

l l l

l l l l l

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Cooking/salad oils Butter formulation Shortening/margarine production Vitamin E production Lecithin production

l l

Sulphonation Ethoxylation/propoxylation Detergent formulation Detergent production Soap production

l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l

l l l l l l

l l

Soap finishing Cosmetics production Glycerine refining Fatty acid derivatives Pharmaceuticals Biodiesel/methyl ester Other Pneumatic conveyors Belt conveyors Vibratory conveyors Slatted conveyors Elevators Loading arms/chutes Auger feeders Storage silos Storage tanks Other Screens Centrifugal separators Gravity separators Magnetic separators Membrane separators Filter presses Pressure leaf filters Other Packing equipment Instrumentation Pumps/fluid handling Vacuum systems/ejectors Process heating systems Steam boilers Thermal oil heaters Heat recovery systems Other

Refining

Pelleting mills Other Degumming Winterising Crystallisation Oil distillation/fractionation Alkali & physical refining Interesterification Miscella refining Deodorisers Bleachers Oil dryers Fat splitting Fatty acid distillation/fractionation Other Hydrogen generators Other

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Extraction

Solvent extraction

Fish oil/mealbehind processing Technology l Science l Rendering/fat melting plant

Leading Oils & Fats technologies 4/30/15 10:34 AM

PREPARATION Hydrogenation

Pope Scientific

Nel Hydrogen

Myers Vacuum

French Oil Mill Machinery

CPM-Crown Americas-Crown Iron Works

Blackmer

Anderson International Corp

l l

l Oilseed crushing mills

Cleaning • Cracking • Dehulling Conditioning • Flaking • Expanding

PRESSING Full Pressing • Prepressing

End user processes/equipment

l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l v2-87x265General-OFI-2015.indd l l l l l l l l l

EXTRACTION Extractors • Desolventing Toasting Distillation • Solvent Recovery

REFINING Degumming • Neutralising • Bleaching Winterising • Deodorising

FAT MODIFICATION Fractionation • Hydrogenation • Interesterification Storage & handling

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l

OLEOCHEMICALS Methylesters • Glycerine • Biodiesel Fatty Acids • Fatty Alcohols

Screens & filtration

Other equipment

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

USA: Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions

Oxford Instruments

De Smet Rosedowns

Crown Europe – Europa Crown

Chemtech International

United Kingdom

mmary table of company activities

Science behind Technology

PLANT, EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY Argentina Proglobal Juan Pablo II 6750, Rosario Santa Fe Tel: +54 341 4544544 E-mail: grabois.rafael@proglobal.com www.proglobal.com

Austria Andritz AG Stattegger Strasse 18 Graz A-8045 Tel: +43 5 08 05/5 62 31 E-mail: separation@andritz.com www.andritz.com/separation Anton Paar GmbH Anton-Paar-Strasse 20 8054 Graz Tel: +43 316 257 1350 E-mail: info@anton-paar.com www.anton-paar.com BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH Parkring 18, Raaba-Grambach, Styria 8074 Tel: +43 316 4009100 E-mail: sales@bdi-bioenergy.com www.bdi-bioenergy.com GIG Karasek GmbH Neusiedlerstrasse 15-19 Gloggnitz, Lower Austria 2640 Tel: +43 2662 42780 E-mail: office@gigkarasek.at www.gigkarasek.at Other: Thin film evaporators, short path evaporators and falling film evaporators, thin film dryers Kemia Handels- und Projektierungs GmbH Hochheimg 20, Vienna 1130 Tel: +43 676 948 2223 E-mail: kondor@kemia.at www.kemia.at Other: Traditional methyl ester production plants, technology to produce triglycerides of modified structure, biomass to electricity plants

OFI 2021 plant & technology guide Oils & Fats International features a fully updated global selection of plant and equipment suppliers to the oils and fats industry, accompanied by a chart of company activities De Smet SA Engineers & Contractors Watson & Crick Hill Building J, Rue Granbonpré 11 - Box 8 B-1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert Tel: + 32 10 43 43 00 E-mail: info@dsengineers.com www.dsengineers.com Other: EPC/EPCM contractor Pattyn Group bvba Hoge Hul 2 – 8000 Bruges Tel: +32 50 450 480 E-mail: info@pattyn.com www.pattyn.com

Bulgaria Elica 32 Haralampi Dzhamdziev St Silistra 7500 Tel: +359 86 820 820 E-mail: info@elica-elevator.com www.elica-elevator.com Other: Dehulling equipment

Canada SOLEX Thermal Science Inc 250, 4720 - 106 Avenue SE Calgary Alberta T2C 3G5 Tel: +1 403 254 3500 E-mail: info@solexthermal.com www.solexthermal.com Other: Pre-heaters, vertical plate conditioners and meal pellet coolers, conditioning systems

Wuhan, Hubei 430074 Tel: +86 27 8722 3888 E-mail: sales@crownironasia.com www.crownasia.com FAMSUN Oils & Fats Engineering Co Ltd No 1 Huasheng Road Yangzhou Jiangsu 225127 Tel: +86 514 87770799 E-mail: myoil@famsungroup.com www.famsun.com Other: White flakes, fermenting meal, full fat soya extrusion, silos, conveyors Guangzhou Scikoon Industry Co Ltd No 2 Xianke Yi Road Guangzhou Huadu 510800 Tel: +86 20 39388895 E-mail: export@scikoon.com www.scikoon.com Other: Aspirator, cracking, flaking mill, counterflow cooler, conditioner, meal crusher, fluid bed dryer Myande Group Co Ltd 199 South Ji’An Road Yangzhou City 225127 Jiangsu Province Tel: +86 514 87849111 E-mail: info@myande.com www.myandegroup.com

Belgium

China

Czech Republic

Desmet Ballestra Group - Oils, Fats and Oleochemicals Division Belgicastraat 3 B-1930 Zaventem Tel: +32 2 7161111 E-mail: info@desmetballestra.com www.desmetballestra.com Other: Full pressing mills, HVO pre-treatment; hydrogenation system, fatty alcohol

COFCOET No 186 Huihe Road Wuxi, Jiangsu 214035 Tel: +86 13815100506 E-mail: nilihua@cofcoetint.com www.cofcoet.com

Farmet AS Jirinková 276, Ceská Skalice 55203 Tel: +420 491 450 116 E-mail: oft@farmet.cz www.farmet.eu Other: Hexane free oilseeds and vegetable oil processing technologies. Feed extrusion, feed milling technologies

16 OFI – JUNE 2021

P&E listing 2021.indd 1

Crown Asia Engineering Tangxunhu Bei Road

www.ofimagazine.com

16/06/2021 15:48:35

PLANT, EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY Denmark

France

GEA Process Engineering A/S Gladsaxevej 305, Soeborg 2860 Tel: +45 21296867 E-mail: steen.lassen@gea.com www.gea.com Other: Vacuum and dry condensing systems

Olexa 47 Alleé d’Irlande, Z.A.C B.P 42015, 62060 Arras Tel: +33 21 55 36 00 E-mail: hello@olexapress.com www.olexapress.com Other: Turnkey plants, cookers, screw presses, spare parts, services

Gerstenberg Services AS Vibeholmsvej 21, Brøndby 2605 Tel: +45 43432026 E-mail: mgn@gerstenbergs.com www.gerstenbergs.com Other: Margarine production plant Haarslev Industries AS Bogensevej 85, Søndersø 5471 Tel: +45 63831100 E-mail: info@haarslev.com www.haarslev.com SPX Flow Technology Danmark AS Oestmarken 7, Soeborg DK-2860 Tel: +45 70278222 E-mail: gs.dk.sales@spxflow.com www.spxflow.com Other: Dynamic mixing, sugar fat application, cream fillings, mayonnaise, pasteurisation, emulsification, CIP plant

www.ofimagazine.com

P&E listing 2021.indd 2

Promill RN 12, Serville 28410 Tel: +33 2 37389193 E-mail: info@promill.fr www.promill.fr Serac 12 route de Mamers 72400 La Ferté-Bernard Tel: +33 2 43 60 28 28 E-mail: facheriaux@serac.fr www.serac-group.com

Germany B+B Engineering GmbH Otto-von-Guericke-Str 50 D-39104 Magdeburg Tel: +49 391 5054 995-0 E-mail: info@b-b-engineering.de

www.b-b-engineering.de Other: Turnkey contractor; vegetable oil refining technologies (hydration, degumming, neutralisation, bleaching, deodorisation), turnkey plants; pilot plants, SKID-mounted refineries, lecithin drying plants, rapeseed dehulling process, utility generation and distribution systems, energy recovery systems Bruker Biospin GmbH* Silberstreifen 4, 76287 Rheinstetten Tel: +49 721 5161 6151 E-mail: info@bruker.com www.bruker.com Other: Benchtop instruments for quality control: Solid fat content, total fat, crystallisation analysis, oxidation and freshness monitoring Buss-SMS-Canzler GmbH Kaiserstrasse 13-15, Butzbach, 35510 Tel: +49 6033 850 E-mail: info@sms-vt.com www.sms-vt.com Other: Equipment for processing of monoglyceride, fish oil, omega-3, lecithin and Vitamin E: thin film evaporators, short path evaporators, molecular distillation, thin film u dryers

OFI – JUNE 2021

16/06/2021 15:48:35

PLANT, EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY u Centrimax – Winkelhorst Trenntechnik GmbH* Kelvinstrasse 8 Cologne 50996 Tel: +49 2236 393530 E-mail: info@centrimax.com www.centrimax.com Egon Keller GmbH & Co KG Anton-Küppers-Weg 17, Remscherid 42855 Tel: +49 219184100 E-mail: info@keller-kek-de www.keller-kek.de GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH Werner-Habig-Strasse 1 Oelde 59302 Tel: +49 2522 770 E-mail: www.gea.com/contact www.gea.com Other: Miscella clarification, aquaeous extraction, press oil clarification, soap stock splitting, alkali neutralisation and fractionation, dewaxing, centrifugal separators and decanters GEA Wiegand GmbH Am Hardtwald 1 76275 Ettlingen Tel: +49 7243 7050 E-mail: chemical@gea.com www.gea.com Other: Evaporation and distillation plants GekaKonus GmbH Siemensstrasse 10 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344 Tel: +49 721 943740 E-mail: info@gekakonus.net www.gekakonus.net HF Press+LipidTech Schlachthofstrasse 22 21079 Hamburg Tel: +49 40 77 179-0 E-mail: service-plt@hf-group.com www.hf-press-lipidtech.com Other: Oilseed processing, refining, screw presses, plant engineering, rendering, biomass technology, storage tanks, process tanks, multi-chamber tanks HTI-GESAB Hoch-Temperatur Industrieanlagen GmbH Sauerbruchstrasse 11 Ellerau Schleswig-Holstein 25479 Tel: +49 4106 70090 E-mail: info@hti-ellerau.de www.hti-ellerau.de 18 OFI – JUNE 2021

P&E listing 2021.indd 3

INTEC Engineering GmbH John-Deere-Strasse 43 Bruchsal D-76646 Tel: +49 7251 9324312 E-mail: christian.daniel@intec-energy.de www.intec-energy.de Other: Biomass- and coal-fired heat supply and power plants, sludge drying and incineration systems, ORC-based power generation modules, thermal oil heaters, steam generators Körting Hannover GmbH Badenstedter Str 56 Hannover 30453 Tel: +49 511 2129-0 E-mail: sales@koerting.de http://koerting.de Maschinenfabrik Reinartz GmbH & Co KG Industriestrasse 14, Neuss 41460 Tel: + 49 2131 9761-0 E-mail: info@reinartz.de http://www.reinartz.de Other: Screw presses, screw dryers, seed conditioning, oil storage, animal feed and bioenergy production oilRoq GmbH Pfaennerhoehe 35 Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt 06110 Tel: +49 345 68578071 E-mail: sales@oilroq.eu www.oilroq.eu Other: Metal candle holder Rono Maschinenbau GmbH Ringstrasse 6 Selmsdorf 23923 Tel: + 49 38823 54480 E-mail: info@ro-no.de www.ro-no.com Other: End user processes/equipment for various spreads, pastry and bakery products, wafer cream, mayonnaise, ketchup, and gelatine. CIP systems, skid units, continuous melting systems VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen Bernrieder Strasse 10 Niederwinkling; 94559 Tel: +49 9962 95980 E-mail: info@vta-process.de www.vta-process.de Other: Thin film, wiped film and short path distillation; thin film deodorisation

India Kumar Metal Industries Pvt Ltd Plot No 7 Mira Co-Op Industrial Estate

Mira Road, Thane, Maharashtra 401104 Tel: +91 22 28458300 E-mail: info@kumarmetal.com www.kumarmetal.com Mectech Process Engineers Pvt Ltd 366, Phase – 2 Gurgaon, 122 016 Haryana Tel: +91 124 4700800 E-mail: info@mectech.co.in www.mectech.co.in Other: Hydrogenation and IE plants Sharplex Filters (India) Pvt Ltd R-664, Rabale MIDC Navimumbai Maharashtra 400701 Tel: +91 22 69409850 E-mail: sales@sharplexfilters.com www.sharplexfilters.com United Engineering (Eastern) Corporation LLP Plot 75, Sector 3 IMT Manesar Gurgaon Haryana 122051 Tel: +91 1244273011 E-mail: sales@uec-india.com www.uec-india.com Other: Screw presses, complete turnkey seed processing and pressing plants, seed conditioning, dewatering presses, animal feed, spares and services Veendeep Oiltek Exports Pvt Ltd N-16/17/18 Additional MIDC Patalganga Maharastra 410207 Tel: +91 9769315463 E-mail: pmbhandari@veendeep.com www.veendeep.com

Italy Andreotti Impianti Spa Via Di Le Prata 148, Calenzano Florence, Tuscany 50041 Tel: +39 055 44870 E-mail: info@andreottiimpianti.com www.andreottiimpianti.com Other: Plants for oilseeds, edible oils and oleochemicals Binacchi & Co Via Gramsci 84, Varese Gazzada Schianno 21045 Tel: +39 0332 461354 E-mail: mail@binacchi.com www.binacchi.com Other: Liquids (oils, detergent) bottling lines www.ofimagazine.com

16/06/2021 15:48:35

PLANT, EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY CM Bernardini International SpA Via Appia km 55900, Cisterna di Latina LT 04012 Tel: +39 06 96871028 E-mail: info@cmbernardini.it www.cmbernardini.it Other: Oil hydrogenation, plants for oilseed preparation, extraction, refinery, oleochemical; fatty acids dry fractionation plant; 1st & 2nd generation biodiesel & glycerine refining; semi-continuous hydrogenation; POME treatment; HVO pre-treatment; methyl ester distillation; ultra-neutralising process; soap stock splitting; ice condensing systems, wiped film evaporators; fatty acids hardening

E-mail: info@emec-corp.com www.emec-corp.com INTEC Energy Systems Sdn Bhd 6F-21, IOI Business Park, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47170 Puchong, Selangor Tel: +603 5891 6642 E-mail: yap.fw@intec-energy.de www.intec-energy.com/die-intecgruppe/intec-energy-systems-malaysia Other: Biomass- and coal-fired heat supply and power plants, sludge drying and incineration systems, ORC-based power generation modules, thermal oil heaters, steam generators JJ-Lurgi Engineering Sdn Bhd No 7-13A-01, Level 13A, Jebsen & Jessen Tower UOA Business Park (Tower 7) Jalan Pengaturcara U1/51A, Seksyen U1 Shah Alam, Selangor 40150 Tel: +60 3 50306363 E-mail: jj-lurgi_enquiry@jjsea.com www.jj-lurgi.com

Desmet Ballestra SpA – Detergents, Surfactants and Chemicals Division Via Piero Portaluppi 17, 20138 Milano Tel: +39 02 50831 E-mail: mail@ballestra.com www.desmetballestra.com Macfuge Servizi Industriali Srl Via Marie Curie 19, Ozzano Dell’Emilia Bologna 40064 Tel: +39 051 795080 E-mail: macfuge@macfuge.com www.macfuge.com

Muar Ban Lee Group JR52, Lot 1818, Jalan Raja, Kawasan Perindustrian Bukit Pasir Muar, 84300 Johor. Tel: +60 6 9859998 E-mail: mbl@mbl.com www.mbl.com Other: Methane biogas capture plant, waste water treatment

TECHNOILOGY Via D. Federici 12/14 04012 Cisterna di Latina, Lazio Tel: +39 06 9696181 E-mail: info@technoilogy.it www.technoilogy.it Other: Vegetable oil extraction and refining; advanced technology to mitigate 3-MCPD & GE in infant formula and food grade products; fat processing; oleochemicals; biodiesel production; waste oil advanced pre-treatment for biofuel production; used mineral oil re-refining; lab analysis & process development; process & product testing on pilot plants

Oiltek Sdn Bhd* Lot 6, Jalan Pasaran 23/5 Kaw Miel Phase 10 40300 Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: +603 554 28288 E-mail: oiltek@oiltek.com.my www.oiltek.com.my Other: Heating systems for bulking installation

The Netherlands CPM Europe BV Rijder 2, Zaandam 1507 DN Tel: +31 75 6512 611 E-mail: info@cpmeurope.nl www.cpmeurope.nl

Malaysia Besteel Berhad* Lot 9683 Kawasan Perindustrian Desa Aman Batu 11, Desa Aman, Sungai Buloh Selangor 47000 Tel: +6012 6729683 E-mail: michaelchan@besteerlberhad.com www.besteelberhad.com Other: Turnkey contractor for palm oil mills

Filtration Group BV – Amafilter Hanzeweg 21, 7241 CS Lochem Tel: +31 573 297 777 E-mail: info.fgnl@filtrationgroup.com www.amafiltration.com Other: Cricket filter, horizontal and vertical filter systems & housings

EMEC Packaging Solutions Sdn Bhd* PT 13532, Jalan Bating, Pandamaran 42000 Pelabuhan Klang Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: +603 3168 6300 / 3165 1344 www.ofimagazine.com

P&E listing 2021.indd 4

Geelen Counterflow Windmolenven 43, Haelen 6081 PJ Tel: +31 475 592315

E-mail: info@geelencounterflow.com www.geelencounterflow.com Other: Coolers and dryers Niverplast BV Baruch Spinozastraat 2 Nijverdal Overijssel 7442 PD Tel: +31 548 538 380 E-mail: sales@niverplast.com www.niverplast.com Van Mourik Crushing Mills * Boylestraat 34, Ede 671 8XM Tel: +31 318 641144 E-mail: info@crushingmills.com www.crushingmills.com

Serbia T-1 Ada Karadordeva 60, Ada 24430 Tel: +381 24 854585 E-mail: sales@t-1.rs www.screw-presses.com Other: Screw presses, spare parts, refurbishing

Singapore LIPICO Technologies Pte Ltd 61 Bukit Batok Crescent #06-03 to #06-06 Heng Loong Building 658078 Tel: +65 631 67800 E-mail: sg.enquiry@lipico.com www.lipico.com

Sweden Alfa Laval Corporate AB Rudeboksvägen 1 SE-226 55 Lund Skåne Tel: +46 46 36 65 00 E-mail: alfa.laval@alfalaval.com www.alfalaval.com

Switzerland Bühler AG Gupfenstrasse 5, Uzwil St Gallen 9240 Tel: +41 71 9551111 E-mail: media@buhlergroup.com www.buhlergroup.com Other: Cracking & flaking mills, vertical seed conditioners, horizontal and vertical impact dehullers and hammer mills, fluidising beds, bagging stations, chain conveyors, ship loaders/unloaders, filters, throw & drum sieves, hull separators, drum magnets, cylindrical case aspirators u OFI – JUNE 2021

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PLANT, EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY u Buss ChemTech AG Hohenrainstrasse 12A Pratteln 4133 Tel: +41 61 8256462 E-mail: info@buss-ct.com www.buss-ct.com Other: Hydrogenation process design Sulzer Chemtech Ltd Neuwiesenstrasse 15 Winterthur 8401 Zürich Tel: +41 52 2623722 E-mail: chemtech@sulzer.com www.sulzer.com

Turkey Keller & Vardarci Industries Ltd Sti Cinar Sok No 12 Ege Serbest Bolgesi Gaziemir Izmir 35410 Tel: +90 232 4784814 E-mail: info@keller-vardarci.com www.keller-vardarci.com Other: Cottonseed delinting machinery, equipment for ginning and oil crushing mills. For all other oilseeds: seed cleaners, dehullers, oil presses, cookers, screens, spare parts for oil crushing mills

Ukraine Tan LLC* 20 Ushinskogo St Chernihiv 14014 Tel: +38 0462 672112 E-mail: serg@.com.ua www.tan.com.ua

United Kingdom Chemtech International Crown House, 1A High Street Theale Berkshire RG5 7AH Tel: +44 1189 861 222 E-mail: sales@chemtechinternational.com https://chemtech-division.com/en/ Crown Europe - Europa Crown Waterside Park, Livingstone Road Hessle East Yorkshire HU13 0EG Tel: +44 1482 640099 E-mail: sales@europacrown.com www.europacrown.com De Smet Rosedowns Cannon Street, Hull, HU2 OAD Tel: +44 1482 329864 Email: sales@rosedowns.co.uk www.rosedowns.co.uk 20 OFI – JUNE 2021

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Oxford Instruments Tubney Woods Abingdon Oxfordshire OX13 5QX Tel: +44 1865 393200 E-mail: magres@oxinst.com http://nmr.oxinst.com

Myers Vacuum 1155 Myers Lane Kittanning PA 16201 Tel: +1 724 545 8331 Email: dymers@myers-vacuum.com www.myers-vacuum.com

USA

Nel Hydrogen 10 Technology Drive Wallingford Connecticut CT 06492 Tel: +1 203 949 8697 E-mail: info@nelhydrogen.com www.nelhydrogen.com

Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions US Inc 9811 Katy Freeway Houston Texas 77024 Tel: +1 713 624 8000 E-mail: green-chemicals-fuels@air-liquide. com www.engineering-airliquide.com/ green-chemicals-fuels Other: HVO pretreatment, HVO/renewable diesel/renewable jet fuel, fatty alcohol, bio propylene glycol, green chemicals, proprietary equipment Anderson International Corp 4545 Boyce Parkway Stow Ohio 44224 Tel: +1 216 6411112 E-mail: eric.stibora@andersonintl.com www.andersonintl.com

Pope Scientific Inc 351 N. Dekora Woods Blvd Saukville Wisconsin 53080 Tel: +1 262 2689300 E-mail: dsegal@popeinc.com www.popeinc.com Other: Degassers, evaporators, reactors, foods, flavours, fragrances, portable vessels, pilot plants and turnkey processing systems, Nutsche filter-dryers

Blackmer 1809 Century Avenue SW Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 Tel: +1 616 2411611 E-mail: info@blackmer.com http://blackmer.com

The Dupps Company 548 North Cherry Street Germantown Ohio 45327-0189 Tel: +1 937 8556555 E-mail: info@dupps.com www.dupps.com Other: Rendering equipment, process drying, oilseed screw press, rotary drum dryers, airless dryers

CPM - Crown Americas - Crown Iron Works 9879 Naples Street NE Blaine MN 55449 Tel: +1 651 639 8900 E-mail: sales@crowniron.com www.crowniron.com

The above companies are a selection of plant, equipment and technology suppliers to the oils and fats industry who have replied to an Oils & Fats International questionnaire this year. Please refer to ‘Summary Table of Company Activities’ chart for companies’ areas of operation.

French Oil Mill Machinery Company 1035 W Greene Street PO Box 920 Piqua Ohio 45356 Tel: +1 937 7733420 E-mail: oilseedsales@frenchoil.com www.frenchoil.com Other: Mechanical screw presses, conditioners/cookers, animal feed, rate bins, oil settling tanks, oil filters, cleaners, cake coolers, roller mills and performance trial testing

‘Other’ refers to other activities selected in the accompanying chart * Denote entries from 2020

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16/06/2021 15:48:35

BLEACHING EARTHS With the EU’s revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) adopted for the 20212030 period, biofuel producers – hoping to meet stringent new requirements – are facing two main feedstock challenges: availability and quality (see Figure 1, below). New feedstock variants, in limited supply and with a diverse range of impurities, greatly impact filterability during pre-treatment, and consequently, production yields and profits. Overcoming these problems requires novel adsorbents and innovative technical strategies that can facilitate high throughput purification.

Pre-treatment of feedstocks

dobe Sto Photo: A

New biofuel feedstocks, new adsorbents

Increasing biofuel regulations are forcing producers to turn to alternative feedstocks, which pose major purification challenges. Now, next-generation adsorbents aim to help producers overcome these challenges, maximising throughput and yields Carlos Rodriguez, Vinicius Ribeiro Celinski Availability 2020-2030

Main quality challenges

Secondgeneration feedstocks

UCO/RUCO

Moderate to good

Alkaline metals, metals, oil stability, polymers

Animal fat (category I & II)

Moderate

N-content, metal content, acidity

Advanced feedstocks

POME

Moderate

Acidity, alkaline metals, metals, P-compounds

Extracted oil from Low bleaching earth

Purest feedstock (already treated), some heavy metals from previous purification

Algae

Metals, polymers

Low

UCO = used cooking oil, RUCO = repurposed cooking oil, POME = palm oil mill effluent Figure 1: Availability and quality challenges of new biofuel feedstock variants www.ofimagazine.com

Clariant bleaching.indd 2

Fresh focus on filtration

Source: Clariant

Feedstock

In a feedstock market that is stretched to its limits, quality and availability are in direct relationship. Insufficient choice and supply of feedstock have forced producers to use lower qualities than their facility designs allow, adding considerable stress to their units. The ability to “tame” difficult-to-treat feedstocks would give producers a strong competitive advantage. In the case of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO), the feedstocks’ regulatory compliant specifications mean that the process remains stable. However, problems are found further upstream, in the pre-treatment unit. With such alternative feedstocks, there should be a fresh focus on two important steps: adsorption and filtration (see Figure 2, following page). An adsorbent is required to reduce many undesirable substances that cannot be removed in the degumming steps. Compared to vegetable oils, alternative feedstocks can contain higher levels of different types of contaminants, such as phosphorous compounds, that can greatly affect efficiency as well as the adsorption step (see Figure 3, following page). Aside from the batch reactor, the filter is one of the most important sections of a pre-treatment unit. Conventionally, horizontal leaf filters (Niagara type) were used with screens that had larger pores than modern designs in order to allow maximum ﬂowthrough during filtration. Since a filter cake is formed with the adsorbent, its quality and development are critical. A stable and, especially, homogenous filtration ensures that contaminant removal is spread across the entire filter cake and leads to more efficient use of the adsorbent. Assuming a parallel channel through u OFI – JUNE 2021

14/06/2021 11:28:23

u the filter cake, filtration efficiency is ideally defined by the Kozeny-Carman equation (see Figure 4, below left). The material inside the cake should improve porosity (µ).

Figure 2: Pre-treatment of alternative feedstocks

Source: Clariant

Figure 3: Contaminant content and removal of alternative feedstocks vs vegetable oils

Source: Clariant

Next-generation adsorbents

Due to the factors mentioned earlier, adsorbents must not only offer improved removal of a great variety of contaminants, but also enhanced filtration efficiency. These qualities can be found in nextgeneration adsorbents, such as Clariant’s Tonsil 919X FF and its newly launched Tonsil 719X FF series, entering the market this year. The highly activated, selective adsorbents considerably facilitate pretreatment of alternative feedstocks and help overcome filtration challenges caused by feedstock viscosity (µ) and contaminants featuring high molecular weights. Another factor affecting the pretreatment unit’s throughput is adsorbent dosing. As alternative feedstocks have a complex contaminant profile at higher levels that are more difficult to remove than vegetable oils, adsorbent dosing usually needs to be significantly increased by 30-80% or higher. A highly activated and selective adsorbent not only helps to reduce adsorbent dosage, but also to increase plant throughput and to minimise oil retention in the cake. These aspects are critical to the total cost of ownership (TOC) in the adsorption process, and, thereby, the overall production costs.

Figure 4: Evaluating filtration efficiency based on the Kozeny-Carman equation

Feedstock

Clariant adsorbent

Filtration time of first pass (seconds)

Palm oil mill effluent (POME)

Tonsil 919X series

Tonsil 719X series

Animal fat

Tonsil 919X series

440

Tonsil 719X series

287

Total metal * (mg/kg)

*earth-, alkaline, Si, P, Fe, Al Figure 5: Comparing present vs next generation adsorbents on POME, animal fat 22 OFI – JUNE 2021

Clariant bleaching.indd 3

Source: Clariant

Advantages for biofuel producers

Source: Clariant

BLEACHING EARTHS

Considering the total cost of ownership, next-generation adsorbents can make the difference between not being able to filter at all and having favourable throughput. Latest lab test results have demonstrated approximately 35% shorter filtration times (first pass) with new generation adsorbents compared with with past generations (see Figure 5, left). This is a major competitive advantage for biofuel producers, not only because it can significantly broaden the scope of feedstocks they can operate with, but also because it ensures high throughput production and minimises oil retention in the spent adsorbent. ● Carlos Rodriguez is the head of technical sales, and a product manager at Clariant AG, Switzerland. Vinicius Ribeiro Celinski is an application development manager at Clariant

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14/06/2021 11:28:24

The perfect recipe

FOR PURIFYING EVERY FUEL FEEDSTOCK ALTERNATIVE FEEDSTOCKS LIKE USED COOKING OIL BRING NEW CHALLENGES TO MAKING RENEWABLE FUELS. WE HELP YOU SOLVE THEM WITH MINERAL PURIFICATION SOLUTIONS THAT:

• are tailored to your needs • work with practically any feedstock • reliably remove a broad range of contaminants • give you greater flexibility in sourcing • safeguard your process from bottlenecks • reduce your total cost of ownership

WWW.CLARIANT.COM/OILPURIFICATION

Photo: Adoe Stock

BLEACHING EARTHS

Finding value in waste Extracting oil from spent bleaching earths using solvent extraction offers the possibility of converting a waste product into one with value Gabriele Bacchini

24 OFI – JUNE 2021

Bleaching earth CMB.indd 2

The last three decades have seen fast growth in vegetable oil production, with worldwide output now totalling more than 200M tonnes/year. The growth has been spurred by increased human consumption, as well as expanding biodiesel production and the growth of the oleochemicals market connected to the personal care industry. Increased vegetable oil production has also led to greater output of some wastes and by-products, mainly from the refining process. By-products such as acid oils, fatty acids distillate and palm oil mill effluent (POME) have become more important in some specific industries. One such industry is biofuels, where subsidies allocated by different countries during the last decade have incentivised the use of low grade feedstocks such as used cooking oil (UCO) and acid oils. Spent bleaching earths is another byproduct which remains under discussion today, despite efforts to develop more sophisticated technologies to utilise this waste. It is estimated that about 1M tonnes of spent bleaching earths – with an average oil content of 20-25% – are produced each year, based on the current vegetable oil production rate and assuming an average of 0.5% of bleaching earths

consumed per tonne of oil. This waste material is a potential hazard as it poses a risk of spontaneous combustion, making it dangerous to transport for proper disposal. In the refinery plant, spent bleaching earth also poses the same spontaneous combustion risk, making the site management of this waste very important. At the same time, the possibility of recovering up to 200,000-250,000 tonnes/year of oil entrapped in spent bleaching earths presents an opportunity to recover a feedstock for non-food applications.

Oil extraction

During the last few years, many industrial operators have been studying the best technology to extract oil from spent bleaching earths to maximise oil recovery. There are several technology options, some proven and some still in the development/pilot plant stage, but the most common method is solvent extraction. Solvent extraction technology is well known and widely used, and is the basis for most of global vegetable oil production. The most critical part of the whole process is the extraction phase, where the oil content is extracted using u hexane as a solvent.

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EMEA Av. del Acero 14-16,19200. Azuqueca de Henares, Guadalajara. (Spain) AMERICA Camino a Puremin 1100, 76700. Pedro Escobedo, Querétaro (Mexico)

26 OFI – JUNE 2021

Bleaching earth CMB.indd 3

TO CONDENSATION ABSORPTION

S S S

HEXANE

RS1

HS1

HS2 F1 RS2 SPENT BLEACHING EARTH DESOLVENTIZATION

TO MISCELLA DESOLVENTIZATION

VP1

such as for cement bricks. This is an important parameter for the producer as the spent bleaching earth disposal costs can be turned into revenue (however minimal) with a positive impact on the overall budget.

Factors to consider

Looking at the data, the solvent extraction process can seem to be a panacea solving most, if not all, of the problems faced by entrepreneurs in the industial sector, transforming a hazardous waste into a product much easier to manage and with a value capable of delivering interesting returns. However, there are some factors to be considered before installing a new extraction plant of this type. The first point is that although the operating costs are not too high, the initial investment could make this type of unit economically unviable for smaller sized plants. The optimal plant size should be evaluated carefully, taking into account the logistic related to the collection of spent bleaching earths from the vegetable oil refineries, and the risks connected to the transport activities. The installation of an industrial extraction plant for processing spent bleaching earths produced in remote locations, especially in regions where logistics are strongly inﬂuenced by an under-developed motorway system, could invalidate any feasibility study conducted. The other major point is the use of solvent, since solvent extraction plants are classified in terms of explosiveness according to the solvent used.

Figure 1: Solvent extraction from spent bleaching earths

2 onal Source: CM 1Bernardini Internati

FEEDSTOCK

In terms of oil extraction from spent bleaching earths, a typical example is shown in Figure 1 (see right). The main difference in this process is in the extraction step itself: in solvent extraction of vegetable oil, there is a panel from the appropriately designed and upstream seed preparation unit that is fed to the extractor (belt or rotary type), where this panel is ﬂooded by the hexane to extract the oil. This approach is not recommended for oil extraction from spent bleaching earths. Instead, spent bleaching earths are transformed into slurry using hexane with a mixing reactor: the size of the reactor and the duration of the slurry formation is based on a pre-determined residence time, part of the know-how of technology providers. The slurry formed in the batch reactor is then filtered continuously through an appropriately-sized continuous vacuum filter to remove solids from the miscella. In some processes, it is even possible for the filter cake on the filter leaves to be subjected to a second wash using fresh hexane required for the next batch, to allow for the total removal of all residual oil in the spent bleaching earths. The miscella distillation, as well as the desolventisation process, are both very similar to the typical vegetable oil extraction process. The typical performance of this technology is significant: to obtain a residual oil content in the spent bleaching earth below 1%, less than 600kg of steam and 4.5 kWh of electric power are normally required. These numbers are dependent on the size and the location of the plant itself, but can be used as a starting point. The vegetable oil extracted is not suitable for the food industry, but there are various applications in the non-food industrial production that make this oil commercially attractive. These range from the biofuels business to the downstream oleochemicals industry (for soaps, special esters etc), depending on the characteristics of the extracted oil. The extracted oil requires some further processing (bleaching or cleaning with some filter aid) to remove some contaminants still present. However there are widely available technologies that can be easily implemented to achieve this. The spent bleaching earths, thanks to the drastically reduced oil, do not present a spontaneous combustion risk. They are more stable for transport and disposal and are also suitable for other applications that can be further evaluated,

BLEACHING EARTHS

Most companies would prefer to install the spent bleaching earth extraction plant in an area where a vegetable oil extraction plant is already present, in order to minimise the associated risks of area classification. The main idea behind this is that having personnel on the existing site who are already trained in the operation of solvent extraction plants is considered an advantage. In this way, strict compliance with all required safety regulations is guaranteed. However, having two of these plants – processing different types of feedstock in the same area – might not be so easy to manage, due to the logistical spaces and storage areas needed to be managed simultaneously. Detailed feasibility studies must be conducted to assess all the above points, to ensure the profitability of the investment and to establish the most appropriate configuration to achieve a return on the initial investment.

Conclusion

The vegetable oil industry is looking for new opportunities to increase its revenues and reduce the risk of spontaneous combustion by further processing of spent bleaching earths. Extracting oil from spent bleaching earths using solvent extraction is a possible solution, based on existing, proven and robust techologies, leading to a future where much more waste can be converted into high value products. ● Gabriele Bacchini is the commercial manager at CM Bernardini International, Italy www.ofimagazine.com

17/06/2021 12:40:49

BLEACHING EARTHS Bleaching is the last stage in the edible oil refining process to remove traces of impurities and contaminants in the finished product. A variety of practical steps can be taken to optimise the process Jorge Bello The aim of edible oil refining is to produce an oil at a competitive cost which has a good odour and taste, with nutritional value and a stable shelf life, while meeting all food safety standards. From a crude vegetable oil, the refining process starts with degumming to remove lecithin, non-hydratable phospholipids (NHP) and metals (see Figure 1, below). Neutralisation in the chemical refining process then removes soaps, NHPs, free fatty acids (FFAs) and metals. The bleaching step is carried out to remove many different impurities such as chlorophyll, carotenes, metals, soaps, pro-oxidants, some aflatoxins, some heavy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and some pesticides and herbicides. However, if not controlled, bleaching clays can also contribute to increased dioxins, and increase the tendency to form 3-monochloropropane diol (3-MCPD), FFAs and glycidyl esters (GEs). The deodorisation step removes FFAs, carotenes, light PAH, pesticides and herbicides.

Bleaching process

The bleaching process can be described as the use of bleaching earths or clays to enhance the quality of the oil. Oil is placed in contact with the clay, contact between the two is promoted so that impurities are

Photo: Adobe Stock

Practical optimisation adsorbed on the clay’s surface and clay with contaminants is removed by filters. Effective adsorption is impacted by temperature, contact time, the concentration of the bleaching clay, the clay’s activity, the speed with which the clay surface is saturated, the selectivity of the clay surface and the effectivity of the agitation. Bleaching earth surface area plays a

key role in adsorption and this can be developed to reach up to 400m2/g. The surface activity can be manipulated to increase adsorption effectiveness from hydrophilic-hydrophobic characteristics. The pore volume can be increased while particle size distribution (PSD) can be adjusted to provide good permeability in the filter and facilitate its separation from the oil. The possibilities of adsorptive bleaching now go far beyond what could be achieved in the past, when bleaching was measured only by the colour of the refined/bleached (RB) oil. Today, parameters such as peroxide value (less than 0.5ppm but preferably 0), soaps and phosphatides (up to 1ppm in some applications), chlorophyll (in ppb ranges) can be measured, among many other contaminants.

Crude Oil

Degumming

Lecithin NHP Metals insoluble

Neutralization Chemical Refining

Soaps NHP FFA Metals

Bleaching

Carotene, Metals, Soaps, PV, AV Prooxidants, Aflatoxin, PAH, Pesticide +Dioxins, +GE, +3MCPD, +FFA

Figure 1: Processing steps in edible oil reﬁning 28 OFI – JUNE 2021

bleaching earths optimisation NEW.indd 2

Deodorization

FFA, Carotenes, Light PAH, Pesticides, Herbicides

Competitive cost/price, Good shelf life, Nutritional value, Good odor and taste, food safety

Source: EP Engineered Clays Corporation

Refining: To Provide Healthy and Delicious Food

Total bleaching cost

The price of bleaching clay itself does not make up the total cost of bleaching. The more bleaching clay is used in processing, the more oil is lost into the clay. Bleaching clay – once used – must also be disposed of and this cost must be u www.ofimagazine.com

17/06/2021 12:57:45

Globally Preferred Bleaching Earth Purification from edible oil to renewable and biofuel. At Taiko, we listen and provide solutions. ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Strict criteria in sourcing the best raw clay Ease of use, versatile. Peace of mind Comprehensive technical support and R&D Maximum impurities removal for 3-MCPDE & GE mitigation An environmentally responsible manufacturer Compliant to international standards

w. www.clay.taikogroup.net

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OFI – JUNE 2021 26/09/2018 12:20

EARTHS TotalBLEACHING Cost of Ownership To Measure Bleaching Cost CC 115 FF

DLV Price per Ton (USD/MT)

700

510

Dosage (kg Clay /MT Oil)

8.75

12.5

Material cost (USD/year)

1,120,816

1,152,783

Oil Losses (USD/year)

215,600

339,345

Disposal (USD/year)

37,370

52,356

1,373,786

1,544,485

Annual cost (USD/year)

Material Cost

Disposal Cost component $/MT Oil

Oil lost Component $/MT Oil

Component ($/MT)

TCO for BC $/MT Oil

Some Factors Affects Heavily the TCO Figure 2: Total cost of bleaching

Impact Weight on TCO & Quality for Bleaching Process

Impact

BE Dosage

BE Oil Retention

Disposal Cost

Contact Time

Bleaching Temperature

Moisture in BE Smoldering system

+++

Permeabili Vacuum in ty in Filter Bleacher

Soaps in unbleached Oil

P load in unbleached oil

Me++ load in Chlorophyll/ unbleached carotene/ oil gossypol

Decrease oxidants in the load

+++

tendency

+++

+++ Heavy Impact ++ Medium Impact + Low Impact

Figure 3: Impact weight of diﬀerent factors on total bleaching earth cost u accounted for. Although disposal cost is the smallest factor in the three main cost components of bleaching, it can be very expensive in some countries. The total cost of bleaching is therefore the sum of the bleaching earth’s cost, oil loss and disposal cost (see Figure 2, above). For this reason, the first step a processor should take is to select the right bleaching clay according to quality needs. The quality of the refined oil and the robustness of the adsorbent should also be considered, and the clay should be headache-free, easy to remove and one which does not require constant adjustment. Clays have a variety of characteristics, with a range of prices and performance. They have different acidity levels, surface area, silicate content and permeability on filter, among other factors. Some of these factors will heavily affect the total cost of bleaching (see Figure 3, above). Bleaching earth dosage is critical for cost, along with oil retention, as explained earlier. The contact time between the clay and oil is another important factor, the optimal requirement being between 20 and 35 minutes, depending on the oil type. The tendency for bleaching earth to 30 OFI – JUNE 2021

bleaching earths optimisation NEW.indd 4

smoulder is also a safety concern. The load of phosphorous, metals, oxidants, chlorophyll and carotene are other factors, as these are all impurities which must be removed.

Optimising bleaching

There are three steps that should be taken to optimise the bleaching process. The first step is to measure the current status and obtain feedback from stakeholders on how satisfied they are, in order to obtain a baseline. The second step is to implement any necessary changes. And the third step is to monitor and track the changes, and then restart the cycle for future improvements. Colour/chlorophyll management Colour is a major factor in consumer opinion and choice of edible oils, and processors should aim for a light colour and clear appearance. The colour of an oil or fat depends on the quality of the source material, with hues ranging from orange (palm oil) to browns (rendered fats). Monitoring the chlorophyll content after bleaching is a more common practice for optimising the

Source: EP Engineered Clays Corporation

I need to lower my cost

Source: EP Engineered Clays Corporation

Option B

bleaching process than monitoring the red colour. This is because chlorophyll is thermostable, unlike carotene. If the chlorophyll level is high, a review of bleaching clay dosage is needed and the clay feeder should be checked. A more active and robust bleaching clay should be considered if variability in the crude oil is high. If there is enough oil in the buffer tank, a potential solution is to recirculate oil back to the filters. If a green colour is detected, look for chlorophyll B traces and if this is present, additional bleaching clay can remove it. Temperature plays a key role in optimising the bleaching process. A higher temperature can be beneficial in chlorophyll, colour removal, and filtration rates. However, it may worsen the colour of the deodorised oil and its oxidative stability. The optimum bleaching contact time is 30 minutes. Shorter times may lead to low efficacy in the bleaching earth, while longer times increase energy costs. Chlorophyll out of bleaching should be controlled to less than 50ppb, at a temperature between 90-1100C. There should be effective agitation to increase collisions, no more than 30 minutes of contact, and a thick cake in the filter of one inch to improve chlorophyll removal through the filter press effect. A led-lag configuration – which is basically the use of spent packed bed filter to pre-filter the oil – will reduce bleaching earth use. If citric acid is used, it should not exceed tne right dosage based on the chelation of calcium, magnesium and iron. Phosphatide management Phosphatides or gums are impurities which need to be removed from edible oils due to their emulsifying and oxidative properties. In order to control phosphatide, its content should be less than 5ppm going into the bleacher. A good way to achieve this is by adding citric acid or phosphoric acid. Wet bleaching helps to hydrate the phosphatides while bleaching earths bond the NHPs to their surface. In many cases, a low temperature of 90-1000C facilitates better hydration of phosphatides to the bleaching earth and its removal in the filter. If phosphoric acid is used in combination with bleaching earth, it should not exceed 50ppm per 0.5% of bleaching earth. It is critical to have the right acid dosage for pre-treatment. More acid should be u used when the contact time is shorter www.ofimagazine.com

17/06/2021 12:57:46

www.tolsa.com

MINCLEAR® High Absorptive Bleaching Earths based on Natural and Activated Clays. Excellent for the treatment of Vegetable Oils & Biofuel Feedstocks • Chlorophylls removal. • Low oil retentions. • Excellent filtration rates. • Phosphorus and metal traces removal. • Reduction of the precursors of 3-MCPD and GE. • Effective stability of oils.

TOLSA, S.A. Parque Empresarial TOLSA, S.A. Mercedes C/ Núñez deLas Balboa, 51 C/28001 Campezo, 1, Ed. 4, Pl. 2ª Madrid - Spain 28022 Madrid Tel.: +34 913 220 100 Tel.: +34 913 220 100 industrial@tolsa.com info@tolsa.com www.ofimagazine.com

OFI – JUNE 2021

BLEACHING EARTHS

Proper Acid Treatment to to Reduce NHP Proper Acid Treatment Reduce NHP

and deodorisation and is an intensive operation in terms of manual activity and constant surveillance by operators. Lessons learned: The cycle length is critical but variable Lessons learned: according to the oil and clay type, • Adjust the treatment formula according to contact time • Adjust the treatment formula according limitations: more acid when contact is shorterto contact time bleaching temperature, amount of soaps limitations: more acid when contact is shorter and gums, and moisture in the oil. • Adjust type of acid by a oxidation factor: of acid acid by a oxidation factor: Fhigh• →Adjust 100% type phosphoric The proper pre-coat impacts the filter 100% phosphoric FmedF→ 50% phos+50% Citricacid high→ life and selecting the right filter aid → 50% phos+50% Citric FlowF→ 100% Citric acid med Flow → 100% Citric acid extends cycles of chemical cleaning in the • Watch for the amount of water in the bleacher as water Watch to forhydrate the amount is• needed gums.of water in the bleacher as water filter screens. is needed to hydrate gums. The flow rate during the pre-coating of • Use a robust clay able to adsorb excess of acid and the filter is recommended at a rate of two • Useofametals robust clay able to adsorb excess of acid and traces ICP-OES Elements (ppm) Sample times the flow of the regular run. Clean traces of metals P Ca ICP-OES Cu Elements Fe (ppm) Mg Sample OxG P Ca Cu Fe Mg oil is also recommended for the pre-coat, bleached 0.05 OxG 0.55 <0.05 <0.05 0.07 bleached 0.55 <0.05 <0.05 0.07 0.05 preferably RB oil to avoid gum and soap deposits. Figure 4: Proper acid treatment to reduce non-hydratable phospholipids (NHPs) Frequent citric acid addition in the bleacher leads to salt deposition Smouldering management on the screen cloth while too wet u (see Figure 4, above). Monitor the amount During the handling of spent bleaching bleaching combined with low bleaching of water in the bleacher as water is earth, there is a risk of starting a fire temperatures tend to leach soap and needed to hydrate gums, while a robust either at the facilities or in the landfill phosphorous across the filter. bleaching clay is needed to adsorb excess where spent clay is deposited. Spent clays acid and traces of metals. themselves have a tendency to start to Metallic compounds management self-burn, a property called pyrophoricity. Metallic compounds are another impurity Free fatty acid (FFA) management The main factors that impact the that needs to be removed. Using acidic Oils with high levels of FFAs are more tendency of spent clays to smoulder clays, where possible, will help to minimise susceptible to oxidative aging and become are: the amount of oil retained in the metals. rancid more quickly, resulting in higher spent cake, the unsaturated fatty acid Using a finer PSD has proved beneficial refining losses. composition of the oil, the pyrophoric for removal of metals, along with a packA high level of unsaturation in edible characteristics of the clay and handling bed effect in a led-lag configuration and oils will increase the tendency to during and after the blowdown step. the addition of citric/phosphoric acid to hydrolysis and FFA generation. A long blowdown time of more than neutral oil. Adding chelating agents may Bleaching efficiency is highly dependent 30 minutes causes a higher tendency to potentially help to capture metals and on the interaction between vacuum, smouldering, along with high pressure form lipophobic salts, which are easy to moisture and temperature. steam, the use of air for drying, improper remove. This will reduce the load on the In order to avoid the formation of FFAs, tapping with water and air exposure in the bleaching clay. oil moisture needs to be controlled as a dumpster. high (0.6%) moisture content tends to Key safety steps to take include: Contaminants and 3-MCPD convert oil into FFAs. Hydrolysis is highly • Avoiding oxygen entering the spent Undesirable components that need to dependent on factors such as bleaching cake by adding a 5-10 minute be removed or reduced from oils include temperature and contact time, bleaching blowdown with nitrogen at the end of PAHs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), earth concentration and vacuum applied the blowdown cycle. This will help to dioxins, pesticides, herbicides, 3-MCPD during bleaching. replace oxygen in the spent cake. and GEs. In order to reduce the negative effect of • Wetting the spent cake with a lime 3-MCPD is considered a substance of moisture, the moisture of water-washed solution (5%w/w) or with water from concern to public health and mitigation oil prior to bleaching should be below the first centrifuge where the pH is strategies include: 0.6%. alkaline. • Reducing diacylglycerol (DAG) levels A high bleaching temperature will • Using a cooling system before in crude oil by changing harvesting increase the generation of FFAs and stockpiling the spent clay. practices or using enzymatic treatment. bleaching temperature should therefore • Avoiding an excess of residual oil in • Washing raw oils to remove chloride be adjusted to minimise FFA generation. the spent cake by using a filter aid to precursors. Contact time at the bleacher should drain off and cool down the spent cake, • Using chemical rather than physical be kept to less than 30 minutes – a long therefore reducing the blowdown time. refining, if possible. There are several contact time increases FFA generation. • Reducing heat added to the system studies and practices which show that Bleaching efficiency also improves with by selecting the right clay with low partial caustic neutralisation helps to reduced pressure, as this allows for a pyrophoricity, reducing the bleaching prevent the increase of 3-MCPD. smooth water evaporation rate, resulting temperature and using cooling systems • Using sulphuric acid-activated in increased efficiency in removal of for the spent clay, such as double shaft bleaching earth to minimise chloride phospholipids, chlorophyll and some red mixers to cool down the clay. ions. pigments. • Removing 3-MCPD esters from refined Reduced pressure also minimises the Filter press management oil with adsorbents, post bleaching with interaction of oil and air, resulting in lower Filtration is typically the bottleneck acid-activated clays followed by mild peroxide values (PV), anisidine values (AV) in the process between bleaching deodorisation. and bleached oil colour. Source: EP Engineered Clays Corporation

ICP-OES Elements (ppm) Sample ICP-OES Elements (ppm) Ca Cu Fe Mg Sample P P Ca Cu Fe Mg OxG 26.0 22.0 <0.05 10.0 4.0 OxG 26.0 22.0 <0.05 10.0 4.0

32 OFI – JUNE 2021

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17/06/2021 12:57:46

BLEACHING EARTHS • Minimising deodorisation temperatures or using a two-step deodorisation process. Total oxidation value (TOTOX) Oil oxidation is an undesirable series of chemical reactions involving oxygen that degrades the quality of an oil, eventually resulting in rancidity and accompanying off-flavours and odours. Measuring oxidation involves testing for the primary and secondary breakdown products. The most common test is peroxide value (PV). However, very rancid oils can have a reduced PV. Therefore, the anisidine value (AV) and a total oxidation value (TOTOX) are also used. In order to control the TOTOX of oils, it is recommended to control the AV in RBD oil to less than 3 for frying oils. Long storage times should be avoided, as well as unnecessary heating of the oil. Finished RBD oils should be blended to control the final TOTOX but refined blends should be avoided. If the TOTOX in RBD oil is greater than 7, storage and handling conditions should be reviewed. Using citric acid with bleaching earth will break down peroxides, while increasing the bleaching temperature and vacuum will remove volatiles. It is important to review the bleaching clay dosage as more clay reduces TOTOX. Clay contact times should also be considered as long times can lead to an increase in TOTOX.

Minersa opens new plant in Mexico Spain’s Minersa Group has opened a new production plant in Querétaro, Mexico, for the supply of Sepigel bleaching earths, doubling its current production capacity. The company said the new facility built on the success of its existing plants in Europe and was part of the company’s commitment to innovation. The facility’s strategic location in Querétaro would allow it to have an important platform in the Americas, guaranteeing efficient service and supply. It would also act as a reference R&D centre. Minersa said it had more than 30 years of experience in developing mineral solutions for the purification, refining and bleaching of oils and fats, with sales on five continents and a presence in companies and refineries operating worldwide. The Sepigel brand comprised a complete range of bleaching earths, from naturally active bleaching earths to highly activated clays. “Our know-how enables Sepigel products to ensure high clarifying capacity, excellent filtration speed and low oil retention in the filtration cake,” Minersa said.

Conclusion

Although the bleaching process appears, at first glance, to be a simple mixing of adsorbent and oil, the chemical and physical reactions which occur are complex and rely on factors such as moisture levels, temperature, contact time and vacuum, and the amount and type of bleaching earth used. A good part of bleaching optimisation is carried out across the refining process but bleaching can be considered the last step in refining to remove impurities before deodorisation. Choosing the right bleaching earth product for the specific application leads to cost competitiveness and a high quality oil. Bleaching cost is influenced by oil losses, disposal costs and dosage. Maximising cake thickness to one inch and a led-lag configuration can lead to cost savings in bleaching. ● Jorge Bello is the global technical service manager for bleaching earth adsorbents and clay catalysts with EP Engineered Clays Corporation, USA, a US Silica company www.ofimagazine.com

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07/06/2019 16:54

OFI – JUNE 2021

17/06/2021 12:57:46

SOYABEAN

Biofuels spur growth

In the early months of 2020, worries about the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economic activity resulted in steep falls across a range of markets, with a retreat in vegetable oils stemming from a marked downturn in food and industrial demand. However, after bottoming out in the late March to early May period, vegetable oil markets surged. The uplift in soyabean oil prices has been especially sharp. After touching a multi-year low of US$580 fob in late April 2020, US Gulf export values have advanced significantly, reaching a high of US$1,678 fob in late April 2021. While similar rallies were seen in Argentina – by far the world’s largest soyabean oil exporter – and Brazil, gains in the US market have been especially dramatic, reflected in sizeable premiums

over competing origins. Boosted by strong demand from China in particular, US soyabean exports have progressed at an unprecedented pace, with shipments forecast to total a record of 62.1M tonnes for 2020/21, an increase of around a third against the previous season. Together with solid domestic demand, the International Grains Council (IGC) expects US soyabean ending stocks to plunge in the year ending 31 August 2021 to just 3M tonnes, an almost 80% yearon-year decline and the smallest amount in seven seasons. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s supply and demand projections issued in mid-May also point to another year of large soyabean disposals (exports and domestic consumption) for 2021/22, with end-season inventories set to remain historically tight.

US biodiesel demand

A key element supporting record US soyabean disposals has been growing domestic uptake of soyabean oil, mainly stemming from increased use in the biofuels sector. As the USA is one of the world’s leading producers of soyabeans, soyabean oil has

(projected)

Figure 1: US soyabean oil consumption by sector (million tonnes) 34 OFI – JUNE 2021

Biofuels soya.indd 2

Source: IGC

The biodiesel and renewable sectors are playing an increasing role in shaping US consumption of soyabean oil Darren Cooper

been traditionally the most important biofuel feedstock utilised by volume. Biodiesel is produced through transesterification, a chemical process that converts fats and oils into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Renewable diesel, which has gained traction in recent years, is manufactured via hydro-treatment at a high temperature and is often referred to as hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO). While biodiesel is blended with petroleum diesel, renewable diesel is broadly physically and chemically identical to petroleum diesel. As such, it can be used in a blend but also consumed independently, with existing diesel engines requiring no modification. It can also be stored in much the same way. As with biodiesel, it can be manufactured using an array of raw material inputs including vegetable oils, notably soyabean oil, rapeseed/canola oil and corn oil, as well as recycled feedstock materials such as used cooking oils (UCO), fats and residues. The closure of much of the US hospitality sector at times over the past year led to a reduction in recycled feedstocks such as UCO and fat, with processors utilising larger quantities of soyabean oil for biofuels production. Data from the USDA also highlights the growing importance of the biodiesel and renewable diesel sectors in shaping US domestic consumption of soyabean oil over the past decade (see Figure 1). While the food sector remains the largest sector, industrial demand – which comprises biodiesel and renewable diesel – has advanced significantly in recent years and, based on the USDA’s latest outlook, is forecast at an all-time high of 4.3M tonnes in 2020/21, a year-on-year gain of 10%. In contrast, uptake in the food market segment is expected to rise www.ofimagazine.com

11/06/2021 13:20:50

more modestly by 3%, to 6.4M tonnes. Tentative projections for the 2021/22 season point to a surge in industrial demand for soyabean oil, potentially rising by around a quarter year-on-year to a record of 5.4M tonnes. This is linked to growth prospects in the production and consumption of soya-based renewable diesel against a backdrop of government incentives aimed at producing cleaner, sustainable fuels. These include federal income tax credits available to blenders and producers, as well as an additional credit to small outfits that produce biodiesel derived from virgin oils. Another form of support comes via California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), administered by the California Air Resources Board. The surge in industrial demand is also being driven by some US-based petroleum refiners planning to convert a portion of their existing capacity to renewable diesel. Against this backdrop, the utilisation of soyabean oil in the US food sector is likely to contract in 2021/22, while the production and use of renewable diesel is likely to continue expanding in the future.

Brazil becomes key producer

Among key biodiesel producers, Brazil has emerged as a significant player over the past decade. Amid economic gains and the use of biodiesel mandates, local production has almost tripled over the decade to 2020, reaching a record of 5.7M tonnes. Although growth in international demand has been central in underpinning sizeable gains in soyabean production over many years, local processing has also been a contributory factor, shaped by rising domestic demand for soyabean oil for biodiesel, with supplies almost exclusively channelled to the local market. While the use of animal fats and other raw materials, including recycled oils, has www.ofimagazine.com

Biofuels soya.indd 3

Source: Abiove, IGC estimates

Figure 2: Brazilian consumption and exports of soyabean oil (million tonnes)

Argentina Brazil Bolivia EU* Paraguay Ukraine USA Sub-total

2016/17 2,536 430 156 468 268 86 681 4,624

2017/18 1,868 559 104 329 331 95 489 3,776

2018/19 2,273 339 169 399 337 154 505 4,176

2019/20 2,118 323 140 346 257 185 646 4,015

2020/21 2,868 288 173 440 229 121 623 4,740

y/y change +35.4% –11.0% +23.8% +27.1% –11% –34.8% –3.6% +18%

*EU28 to 2019/20, EU27 from 2020/21

Figure 3: Shipments by leading soyabean oil exporters, Oct-Mar, (‘000 tonnes) expanded, soyabean oil remains by far the principal feedstock employed, with government data estimating its share in total feedstock usage at 71% in 2020. The government’s recent, temporary lowering of the national biodiesel blending mandate by three percentage points to 10% (B10), could contain the potential for growth in 2021. Nevertheless, with local supplies of soyabeans expected to remain plentiful in future years, further growth in local demand for soyabean oil is expected moving forward. As a consequence, export potential is likely to be contained.

Prospects for trade

Global trade in soyabean oil has advanced over the past decade as economic growth and rising incomes boosted (food) demand from Asian importers in particular. Despite the backdrop of elevated international values, a further year-onyear increase in world import demand is likely in the October 2020-September 2021 period, to a high of almost 12M tonnes. Tight supplies of alternatives, notably palm and sunflower oils, has encouraged some buyers to switch a small portion of their overall requirements to soyabean oil. In the 2021/22 season, world import demand is seen staying high, although buying interest will ultimately be shaped by availabilities and pricing compared to alternatives.

Source: IGC

Photo: United Soybean Board

SOYABEAN

Highlighting the strength of global demand in the current trade year, shipments have progressed robustly during the first half of 2020/21, with aggregate dispatches by seven selected exporters rising by about one-fifth yearon-year, to 4.7M tonnes. The upswing in trade has been primarily underpinned by demand from importers in Asia, including China, India and Bangladesh, as well from end users in the Americas and Africa. The bulk of the overall net increase in soyabean oil dispatches was almost entirely due to Argentina, the world’s dominant supplier, with a downturn in domestic demand, notably from the biodiesel industry, boosting export availabilities. Based on their current pace to date, shipments for the year in full from that origin are anticipated to post a solid year-on-year increase to a new high. In contrast, export availability in the USA is relatively tight, exacerbated by the recent uptrend in domestic renewable diesel production, with full-season shipments expected to contract in 2020/21. In Brazil, international sales of soyabean oil are expected to remain well below past highs, although the temporary reduction in the national biodiesel blending rate could boost exportable supplies of the vegetable oil in the near-term. ● Darren Cooper is a senior economist at the International Grains Council (IGC) OFI – JUNE 2021

11/06/2021 13:20:50

STATISTICS STATISTICAL NEWS Vegetable oil prices

Vegetable oil prices trended higher in April and May, following a resurgence in global COVID-19 cases, particularly in Asia. The Mintec Category Indices (MCI) for oils and fats rose 7.51% month-on-month to US$1,828/tonne on 12 May. The index was also up 23% quarter-on-quarter. The Mintec Benchmark Price (MBP) for EU soyabean oil climbed 3.5% month-on-month to €1,190/MT on 3 June. US soyabean prices also hit a decade high of US$1,296/ tonne on 26 April, spurred by firm biofuel demand and cold weather at the start of the US planting season for the 2021/22 crop. Chinese demand for soyabean meal remains firm as the country’s hog herd continues to recover. The MBP for EU sunflower oil fell 13% month-on-month to US$1,410/tonne on 3 June. Prices have been significantly impacted by a lack of willingness to purchase on the spot market after tight Ukrainian, Russian and EU supply sent prices skyrocketing over the past year. Market participants are now looking to buy oil from the new season crop in September.

Vegetable oil prices (€/tonne)

Rapeseed oil

The Mintec Benchmark Price (MBP) for EU rapeseed oil rose 2.2% month-on-month to €1,165/tonne on 3 June. Despite price volatility in May due to demand uncertainty arising from the resurgence of COVID-19, the market continued to push higher, with prices hitting a record high on €1,200/tonne on 28 April. The main drivers on the demand side have been firm global demand for biofuel feedstocks and rapeseed meal for animal feed in China. On the supply side, there has been tight global supply due to poor weather last year, and subsequently harvests, in Canada and the EU. Canadian stocks fell to just 6.57M tonnes in March, the lowest level in eight years. EU supply also remains very tight. High prices are, however, currently deterring purchases on the spot market, with buyers opting for purchases on the cheaper futures market at a later date.

Rapeseed oil fundamentals, Canada (‘000 tonnes)

Palm oil

Global palm oil imports (million tonnes)

Prices of selected oils (US$/tonne) Soyabean Crude palm Palm olein

Dec 20

Jan 21

Feb 21

Mar 21

Apr 21

May 21

1,001.7

1,053.2

1,075.1

918.4

915.9

974.0

1,220.0

1,369.2

1,427.1

1,045.5

1,000.1

1,128.9

873.6

875.1

911.6

985.5

921.6

1,046.6

Coconut

1,491.5

1,458.2

1,435.0

1,528.0

1,554.0

1,633.9

Rapeseed

1,040.0

1,092.5

1,131.5

1,218.2

1,339.1

1,386.6

Sunflower

1,185.1

1,298.5

1,385.9

1,637.6

1,589.4

1,595.0

Palm kernel

1,246.5

1,345.2

1,335.7

1,434.2

1,430.4

1,464.1

Average

1,108.0

1,148.0

1,178.0

1,296.0

1,315.0

1,383.0

263.0

272.0

279.0

307.0

312.0

328.0

Index

36 OFI – JUNE 2021

Stats June.indd 1

The MBP for palm oil (Rotterdam, origin – Malaysia and Indonesia) rose 2.25% month-on-month to US$1,135/ tonne on 3 June. Prices were particularly impacted by a severe resurgence in COVID-19 cases in India, the world’s largest palm oil importer. Demand fell from the country due to the reinstatement of lockdowns, weighing on palm oil use for both edible and fuel purposes. Demand has shifted slightly to soyabean oil, which is used primarily as a home cooking oil, while palm oil is typically used by the hospitality and food sectors. The situation in India is expected to improve by mid-July, at which point palm oil prices could firm. Mintec provides independent insight and data to help companies make informed commercial decisions. Tel: +44 (0)1628 851313 E-mail: sales@mintecglobal.com Website: www.mintecglobal.com

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11/06/2021 09:35:13

Consistency is key. You can rely on Oil-Dri. With unrivaled customer service, dependable supply, and highly experienced technical service experts, our world-class team is tough to beat. We stay committed to enhancing your refinery processes each and every step of the way. Our globally trusted bleaching earths for edible oils — Pure-Flo®, Supreme™, and Perform® — are the industry’s reliable choice for performance in color reduction, metals removal, and filtration. Feel at ease with products you can trust.

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OFI June 2021

Articles inside

Merck scales lipids supply to meet COVID demand

Biofuels spur growth

Practical optimisation

World statistical data

New feedstocks, new adsorbents

Plant & technology listing

Finding value in waste

A win for plant-based dairy