Animal fat represents a waste in abattoirs, butchers shops and kitchens. I'm interested to know if there are any concrete examples of its use for energy purposes (fuel for engines, boilers, biogas generation, etc.).
There is an EU project named Animpol.
http://www.animpol.tugraz.at/englisch/eng_projekt.htm
http://derstandard.at/1371169860817/Aus-tierischen-Abfaellen-wird-Biokunststoff-hergestellt
http://www.welt.de/print-welt/article198559/Tierische-Fette-aus-dem-Schlachthof-koennen-Methanol-im-Biodiesel-ersetzen.html
Other:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-03/acs-nwt022414.php
Regards,
Joachim
Animal fat can be used for biodiesel production, methanol or ethanol manufactring, soap making, candle making, and other purposes
www.extension.org/pages/30256/animal-fats-for-biodiesel-production
It is possible but much less efficient than using vegetable matter.
Thank you, Edward. We try to avoid to burn the by-product in an incinerator without heat recovery as it happens now.
The company Agrokor Energija d.o.o. (http://www.agrokor.hr/hr/kompanije/agrokor-energija-d-o-o/) from Zagreb developed a biogas plant which partly uses the waste from meet industry as input material. I did not look deeply in their process, but I remember that they mentioned thermal processing of this kind of waste before the production of biogas.
Hi Gabriel,
in Switzerland we have an example, but not very successful, they have insolvency.
The plant Biorender AG in Münchwilen (Thurgau) produces biogas from rest of animals.
http://www.stadtwil.ch/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-73/369_read-4901/
I agree with Serena that waste to energy from offal is challenging. An energy balance analysis typically shows a negative number. I would suggest selling the fat to a rendering company (create your own company?). If the fat is heavily entrained in water, look at Electrocoagulation to remove larger fat particles. Sell the skimmings with the offal. The leftover effluent could be then an excellent feedstock for anaerobic digestion.
In Switzerland as in many other countries, (melted) animal fats ("of category 1" according to the regulations on animal by-products) are commonly used either for direct combustion or the production of biodiesel. Category 2 fats may be co-fermented in biogas plants (after pressure sterilisation), whereas "energetic rendering" is not the first priority and the "best use" for fats of category 3 (that can be used for feeding purposes).
Thank you, Don and Urs.
The beef fat that I wish to treat comes from tanneries that transform beef skins in leather, so, it is not eatable. And the quantities are not so large. According to all opinions, the applicable techniques are: direct combustion, biodiesel and biogas.
biogas production will be more feasible option as for biodiesel production it will need cleaning and purity and cleaning will lead to extra cost of drying for biodiesel product process.
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