biodiesel fatty acids are fatty acids that are produced as a by-product of the production of biodiesel during the processing of crude glycerine — especially when oils or fats with a high proportion of free fatty acids are processed. They consist of long-chain carboxylic acids (e.g. palmitic acid, oleic acid or linoleic acid) and can vary depending on the raw material.
Biodiesel fatty acids as a sustainable raw material for advanced biofuel production
Fatty acids from biodiesel production serve — in free form — as a starting material for the production of sustainable/advanced biofuels. Fatty acids from residual and waste materials are increasingly being used — e.g. from used cooking oil, animal fats or secondary flows of industrial processes. These so-called waste fatty acids are considered to be particularly sustainable, as they are not in competition with food production and continue to use existing resources efficiently.
Using modern processes such as re-esterification and hydrogenation processes, these waste fatty acids can be converted into high-quality biofuels.
