PARTNER SEARCH FORM
DATE: 30/03/2010
SOURCE:
REF. PARTNER SEARCH:
PROJECT INFORMATION
TITLE: Biological production of add-value bioproducts from soapstocks from biodiesel production
ACRONYM:
SUMMARY:
Interest in industrial biotechnology has increased recently and many industries whose activities were
traditionally based on petroleum sources are widening their activities searching different natural carbon sources.
Biodiesel is an alternative diesel fuel that is produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. It consists of the
monoalkyl esters formed by a catalyzed reaction of the triglycerides in the oil or fat with a simple monohydric
alcohol. The biodiesel processing industry involves the extraction and processing of oils and fats from vegetable
sources. Oil refining includes degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, and further refining. These
processes originate different by-products such as glycerin or soapstocks.
Biodiesel producers used to sell their leftover byproducts, but the rapid increase in biodiesel production has left
them paying to get rid of it, or at least pay for transport in order to get an accurate management of this waste.
Soapstock waste has been used mostly as animal feed, raw material for soap makers, and feed stock for fatty
acid production. The existent patents and commercial processes to make fatty acids from soapstock always
refers to hydrolysis and acidification steps using strong acids such as sulfuric or hydrochloridic acids, producing
a mixture of fatty acids, inorganic salts, water, and other small components such as glycerin, phospholipides.
This amount of soapstocks will serve as raw material for obtaining biosurfactants and fatty acids esters by
biotechnological processes. Surfactants and emulsifiers are widely used for industrial, agricultural, food,
cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Despite some apparent disadvantages most of these compounds are
chemically synthesised. On the other hand, biosurfactants have some major advantages over their chemicals
surfactants because they are biodegradable, have low toxicity are effective at extreme temperatures or pH value
and show better environmental compatibility.
The main objectives of the project are the following:
o
Development of a fermentation technique for biosurfactants obtaining which permits the valorization of
soapstocks from biodiesel production.
o
Development of an enzymatic catalysis technique which allows incorporating the soapstocks to the
add-value compounds fabrication sector.
o
Working on different applications of this new add-value products developed.
KEYWORDS:
Industrial biotechnology, biodiesel, soapstocks, biosurfactants
CALL: LEAD ERA CALL 2010
LEAD MARKET: Bio-based products
PARTNERS INVOLVED:
Technological Centre L’Urederra
Industrias Suescun, S.A.
PARTNER SEARCH PROCEDURE
PARTNER SOUGHT
ORGANISATION TYPE:  SME
 Education/training
 Research
 Other: …………….
 Other enterprise
TARGET PARTNER EXPERTISE SOUGHT:

Research on biotechnological processes (fermentation, enzymes, biocatalysts…).

Biodiesel production companies.

Fatty and oil wastes management companies.

Surfactants production companies.

End users of surfactants produced.
EXPIRY DATE:
CONTACT PERSON
NAME: Marta Mateo Garcia de Galdiano
E-MAIL: marta.mateo@lurederra.es
TELEPHONE: +34 948 640 318
ENTERPRISE: L´Urederra Technological Centre
POSTAL CODE: 31210
CITY: Los Arcos
PARTNER SEARCH PROCEDURE
FAX: +34 948 640 319
REGION/COUNTRY: Navarre-Spain