The NextCAT solution allows producers to lower their overall production costs through savings in not only the incoming feedstock but the process as well through fewer process steps and higher efficiency.

PROBLEM

Over 80% of the biodiesel plants in the U.S. are idled because they cannot produce biodiesel profitably.

The cost of producing biodiesel is dictated primarily by the cost of the feedstock. To produce 1 gallon of biodiesel using traditional technology it takes 7.5 lbs of soybean oil at a cost of $2.70, and about $.60 of processing and overhead costs.

The result is biodiesel that costs more to make than what it can be sold for on the open market and priced uncompetitively compared to petroleum diesel. This is due to both the high feedstock costs and process inefficiencies

THE NextCAT SOLUTION

The NextCAT solution for relieving the cost issues associated with biodiesel production address both the source oil and the production process simultaneously. 

Specifically, we have uncovered a new class of biodiesel production catalysts that have the ability to convert a wide range of oil feedstocks to biodiesel while, at the same time, simplifying the biodiesel production process.

Results indicate that our new generation of catalysts are capable of converting oil feedstocks with high FFA (<= 30%), and water content (<=5%) into FAME with a (>90%) in a single reaction step.  Biodiesel grade fuel can be achieved in two steps.

In addition, these same catalysts have shown the capability to simultaneously process both FFA and triglycerides, which allows biodiesel producers to use less refined and less costly feedstocks such as rendered animal fats, algae, and waste cooking oil.  This greatly simplifies the FAME/glycerin separation and drying processes, and eliminates much of the current disposal costs associated with soap extraction and hazardous byproducts.

NextCAT can retrofit existing facilities to streamline the production process and further reduce processing costs.

Total savings on both feedstock and processing will bring an idle biodiesel production facility back online and back on the road to profitability.

To learn more about what biodiesel is and its many benefits please click here.

For more information on the NextCAT solution please see: Published technical report