In cooperation with a public association for animal carcass disposal (ZTS) this test had the purpose of establishing proof that it is possible to process animal residue in pressure-less catalytic depolymerization units (CC).

The CC technology utilizes a catalytic reaction in a fluid state at temperatures of 550°F and 50°F to transform the hydrocarbons contained in the feedstock into light oils, which can typically be used in internal combustion diesel engines.

The aim of the test was to establish that it is possible to effectively convert the feedstock, provided by ZTS into diesel fuel.

A positive result would substantially boost the economy of animal waste disposal and provide diesel fuel for one's own use and/or sale. It would not be necessary any longer to utilize large amounts of energy to dry the animal carcasses and convert them in a complex process into animal carcass meal. Rather the cut up and sterilized animal parts could be converted directly to light oil and used as a valuable energy resource. In addition, substantial environmental benefits could be achieved, as the animal meal residue does not have to be incinerated.

For performing this test, the ZTS made about 120 pounds of product available from current production, which was taken off the production line behind the disc dryer. This product is intended to be used, undried, as feedstock for the CC machine and its preprocessing. The chemical analysis resulted in the following composition.

From the values above, it was obvious that the elements used as feedstock are suitable for the CC process

As a first step, a qualitative demonstration of the CC test unit was performed.

The feedstock material was first subject to a thermal pre-treatment process to make it digestible for the CC unit. The test was performed over several hours and resulted in a positive reaction with a final liquid product, which was analyzed in detail. The demonstration was partly video taped.

Following this demonstration, the residual feedstock was tested again on February 3, 2005 in the presence of: Prof. Bach of Institut for Fahrzeugtechnik (Institute for Vehicle Technology), Dresden; and Prof. Siegel of Siegel & Partner Analytik (a test body, specialized in environmental and fuel analysis).

The purpose here was to document the test bench layout and professionally appraise the resulting fluid output.

The two institutes evaluated the results and their certificates follow.

Translation:

Prof. Siegel & Partners 
Environmental Analytics and Consulting

Test with animal fat in the CC unit, Eppendorf, Germany

On February 4, 2005 animal fat was converted in a sub-industrial scale CC test unit. At a reaction temperature of 300°C (approx. 600°F) the feedstock was converted to hydrocarbons.

Extensive analytic test were performed with the resulting fluids leading to the conclusion that the fluids are a hydrocarbon mix that conforms in its boiling performance to that of diesel fuel and/or light heating oil. The comparison to conventional diesel fuel is shown in the attached GC/MS chromatograms.

Harmful compounds, which would make the usage as vehicle fuel difficult, like heavy metals and phosphor were not detectable.

The tests have shown the yield from the feedstock was exceptionally high. The catalyst used showed good activity and selectivity.

If the process is further optimized, an even better conversion and yield can be expected.

The test procedure and the analytic characteristics of the products have shown that the pressure-less catalytic conversion of animal fat into diesel fuel is successful.

Prof. Dr. H. Siegel

OINK OIL

As meatpackers enter the field, they bring massive amounts of feedstock that could make biodiesel cheaper and more plentiful. The shift to animal fat as a fuel stock could be key to making the budding biodiesel industry a reliable fuel source, according to Vernon Eidman, a professor of economics at the University of Minnesota who has extensively studied the biofuels industry.

CC has major advantages in this field! Not only is our yield approximately 20% higher with no glycerol residue—which is the threatening liability of biodiesel production—but the resulting light oil has all the features of conventional fossil diesel, without being fossil.

While it has always been cheaper, animal fat was initially overlooked as a biodiesel fuel stock because of its uneven quality, according to Professor Eidman. Biodiesel from animal waste is problematic, as it starts clouding and gelling well above freezing.

In addition, there are as still major problems with product stability and quality, while CC diesel produces high energy content with a cetane rating of 60+ and an almost unlimited stability.

Biodiesel from animal fat's technical drawbacks show that it clouds up at higher temperatures than soy-based biodiesel, which means it might thicken up when used in colder, northern cities. That might limit distribution to southern areas where temperatures don't often drop below 40 degrees or so, which makes it almost unusable for car and truck applications. This may be the reason a major US meat packer, after prolonged research, has abandoned biodiesel as a viable avenue for it is waste.

Eidman estimates that within five years, the U.S. will produce 1 billion gallons of biodiesel, and half of it will be made from animal fat. By that time soybean-based biodiesel will account for about 20 percent of the total, he said. The highest concentrations are in the Plains states, North Carolina, and California.

This begs the question, which is better, animal fat-based production with its high gel viscosity; or a soy-based process with its limitations on feedstock costs and availablity.

Passage of the federal Energy Policy Act set a new standard requiring the U.S. to use 7 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2012. When the Energy Bill passed, soybean oil was already widely sold as a food additive.

Increasing demand for soybean oil as a fuel from the food chain is making the price creep up.

It now makes economic sense to invest in new technology, like the CC technology, to process large quantities of disposable waste with small amounts of animal fat.

After this test, the final product was tested at the University of Dresden with a 1000 cm, 15.7 hp industrial diesel engine.

In the first phase, regular commercial grade diesel was tested.

In the second test, the exhaust values of the CC diesel derived from animal residue was tested.

Both results were in the comparable and permissible range.

Documentation photograph of the CC diesel (left final distillate; right intermediate distillate).

The test result allow the conclusion that light oil, which is manufactured by the use of animal waste intermediate product, corresponds to the requirements to a fuel that satisfies the parameters of the DIN EN590. Therefore, animal waste products can be used as fuel for truck engines and as light heating oil.

A detailed test report can be made available against signature of a non disclosure agreement. Please contact us at info@energy-visions.com.