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Biodiesel is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to the traditional mineral oil-based fuel – and that applies throughout Europe.Although Germany is clearly the biggest market in the world, with a volume estimated at around a million metric tonnes for 2004, there is a growing trend towards eco-fuel in other EU countries as well. The European Parliament is lending its vigorous support to this development. A corresponding directive was passed on May 8, 2003, scheduled to come into effect at the start of 2005. It requires member states to ensure that a minimum proportion of biofuels and other renewable fuels is brought onto their markets.All EU members are being asked to make sure the figure is at least two percent by the end of 2005, and 5.75 percent by 2010. ”France will follow suit", Agriculture Minister Heré Gaymard declared, with an eye to his German neighbour. Last year French biodiesel production fell to just 310,000 metric tonnes. Now the existing program is to be exploited to its full capacity of 387,000 tonnes and tax relief extended to a further 80,000 metric tonnes of "Diester", the brand name for biodiesel in France. In all, the country has production capacities for 490,000 tonnes, making it the second-largest market anywhere.
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Biodiesel consists of special chemical compounds – what are called mono alkyl esters –of vegetable oils,animal or old cooking fats, produced when frying food, for example. The feedstock normally consists of the most common vegetable oils, meaning rape in North Europe,soybeans in the USA or palm oil in countries that have more of a tropical climate. Coconut and sunflower oils are also suitable as a source for biodiesel.
Biodiesel demand in Europe rising to ten million tonnes
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In Europe around 50 manufacturers currently produce approximately 1.5 million tonnes of biodiesel. Their total capacity is around 2.1 million tonnes. If the aim of the new directive from Brussels is attained, European demand will increase to around ten million tonnes per year. In Germany alone,production capacities for the "green diesel"have increased tenfold to 1.1 million tonnes since 1995, produced by 23 facilities throughout the country, with further plants under construction.
This development is being followed with interest in Niederkassel-Lülsdorf near Cologne, as it is here that Degussa's Building Blocks Business Unit produces the catalyst that enables biodiesel to be commercially manufactured. "We consider biodiesel, called chemically rapeseed oil methyl ester (RME), to be among the important applications with high rates of growth", explains André Noppe, Product Line Manager in Lülsdorf. The plant is well prepared to meet growing demand:"We can expand our existing facilities very quickly if required", Noppe confirmed.
During the manufacturing process,a 30 percent sodium methylate solution in methanol, known by the abbreviation NM30, controls the reaction of the rape seed oil to biodiesel and glycerol. One tonne of raw material requires only about 17 to 18 kilograms of catalyst. At the end of the process, RME and glycerol are separated.After purification, the glycerol can be marketed to the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food industries. Degussa supplies the catalyst solutions in a ready-to-use form. It can be added directly from the storage tank to the production process,and consequently it is very easy to work with. These catalysts are used primarily in large facilities with an annual capacity of 50,000 to 100,000 tonnes.
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Catalyst ensures high glycerol yield and quality
One advantage of the Degussa catalyst is that it produces a high glycerol yield and quality. This is why many RME producers choose NM30. Around two thirds of the large facilities are designed around this catalyst. In contrast, a related catalyst, potassium methylate, is used to particular advantage in processing old cooking fat into biodiesel. Degussa is the world's biggest manufacturer of these alkoxides.
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"With the Degussa catalyst, biodiesel can be manufactured in a water-free process, which avoids the production of impurities. This process also makes it easier to separate and process the biodiesel and glycerol, "says Michael Markolwitz, Degussa's Biodiesel Project Manager. Altogether, the alkoxide catalysts offer significant commercial advantages over the alter atives sodium and potassium hydroxide.
Moreover, the company also helps to ensure the shelf life of this "nature's own"fuel, which can degenerate as a result of storage, heat and oxygen in the atmosphere. Degussa's IONOL ®CP is a suitable antioxidant for biodiesel and complies with the EU standard for biodiesel quality assurance (in force since 2003). More efficient solutions based on Degussa products are under development.
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New facilities strengthen demand for catalysts
In the future, Degussa's catalysts customer base should grow considerably. New market potential is expected particularly in Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and Poland - countries where the topic of biodiesel has only recently appeared on the agenda. Furthermore, the British government has decided to guarantee tax relief until 2007.
Following the example of Germany and France, the Scandinavian countries are also set to swiftly implement the EU guidelines for biofuels. Sweden has already decided to completely abolish the energy and CO2 tax on biofuel mixes. The Swedish rapeseed producer Svensk Raps estimates a ratio of two to three percent biodiesel over the medium term, which, with diesel demand at 3.5 million tonnes, will require production of 70,000 to 100,000 tonnes. Sweden already produces 10,000 tonnes. Denmark has not yet amended its national legislation to enable admixtures with biodiesel in its own country. Consequently, its production is still being marketed in Germany.
The EU accession country of Lithuania has 80,000 hectares in rapeseed production, with rapeseed processing also now underway here. Around 40,000 tonnes of rapeseed oil are produced,of which a tenth is processed into biodiesel. The targets for RME and bioethanol are an admixture of five percent. Apart from the additional income potential for agriculture, biodiesel offers undisputed massive benefits in terms of environmental protection. It produces no additional burden of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. This is because every kilogram of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere through combustion has already been absorbed from the air by the plants through photosynthesis. Biodiesel is in this sense a closed loop. Hydrocarbon emissions from the biofuel are also 20 to 40 percent less than normal diesel. And the product extracted from fields is likewise superior in terms of its lubrication qualities.Fossil diesel fuels need sulphur or other additives to achieve the same effect – but ature has already given biodiesel the requisite properties, even though it is practically sulphur-free. Thus, using biodiesel contributes significantly to reducing acid rain.
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In the USA diesel is traditionally a fuel for trucks (especially fleet trucks), buses and farm equipment. At present, several facilities for biodiesel are projected as a draft bill (Renewable Fuels Standard) has been proposed. The raw ingredient for this is the common soybean.
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Biodiesel on the march worldwide
A market is also emerging in Brazil. Starting November 2004, an admixture of two percent biodiesel to conventional diesel is being introduced in this country. The raw material shall be extracted from soybeans. Also under consideration are plans to expand the biodiesel ratio to 20 percent by 2020.
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Asian countries are also interested in biodiesel.Thailand, for example,is currently investing around 200 million dollars in new palm oil facilities. Malaysia and Indonesia are taking similar approaches. The Philippines intends to use overcapacity in coconut oil in order to produce biodiesel. In Australia,four oil mills are currently being built. The government is providing a 27 million euro subsidy for their construction. The raw material will be rapeseed and animal fat. Against this background, biodiesel production is expected to grow not just in Europe but worldwide,further improving the market opportunities for Degussa to sell its alkoxide catalysts.
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VESTAMID(R) for safe diesel lines
The composition of biodiesel,and so its chemical properties as well, differ depending on the raw materials used. But in all cases, pure biodiesel is more aggressive for the fuel line system than the mineral oil version. The recently developed material VESTAMID LX9013 from Degussa's High Performance Polymers Business Unit is able to handle these demands. The modified polymer, a polyamide 12, is mechanically very stable and remarkable resistant to aging – even at the high fuel temperatures generated by the new diesel injection systems. All the tests to date indicate that it is significantly superior to all competitive materials, particularly in contact with biodiesel.
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In the automotive field,Degussa is active in the four competency fields of assembly, coating, polymer engineering and reinforcement to make cars more beautiful, more ecological, more efficient and safer. Polymer solutions for developing innovative vehicle systems, designing material and fuel structures, components for coating materials, for adhesives and seals enable us to make a significant contribution toward future mobility. Degussa is a multinational corporation consistently aligned to ighly profitable specialty chemistry. In fiscal 2003, its 47,000 employees generated sales of †11.4 billion and operating profits (EBIT)of † 878 million,making it Germany's third-largest chemical company and the global market leader in specialty chemicals. Innovative products and system solutions enable Degussa to play a valuable and indispensable role in the success of its customers, as summed up by our claim “creating essentials”.
ots Original Text Service: Degussa AG Internet: http://www.presseportal.de
Contact: Hannelore Gantzer Spokeswoman Corporate Communications T +49-211-65041-368 F +49-211-65041-527 hannelore.gantzer@degussa.com