Hiller decanter centrifuges for bio-based products

Bio-based products become more and more important. In order to safely meet the growing energy demand of mankind, we do need renewable raw materials. In energy generation for example sustainability and eco friendliness become more and more important, researchers look for solutions with a guaranteed future.

The whole industry branch is subject to a permanent change. Biological procedures can nowadays be found in all aspects of daily life – often not noticed by the consumer. From fuels to pharmaceutical ingredients up to the most different materials in the field of building - products from renewable raw materials have become a fixed part of our daily life.

This change opens new fields of application for the decanter which is such a versatile machine. For a long time high performance decanters of the engineering company Hiller GmbH are successfully used in this field. Hiller has developed and produced decanters for 45 years now in Vilsbiburg (Bavaria).

So Hiller decanters are used for example in the production of bio ethanol, which can again be used as fuel or kerosine. But bio ethanol can also be used for the production of bio plastics, which serves for example as packaging material for food.

Also in the biogas production decanters play an important role in the meantime. This gas forms when organic material decomposes without oxygen in so-called biogas plants. By the fermentation of organic waste methane gas is formed, which is used for power generation. Hiller decanters are again used for dewatering the fermentation residues.

For sustainability reasons the waste heat, which is formed in the production of biogas, should also be used in a constructive sense. There are many ideas for this, one is the use of waste heat for algae cultivation. Here Hiller GmbH, together with engineering company Empl GmbH and the “Justus-Liebig-Universität” in Gießen became part of a research project for algae harvest where the decanter is used effectively.

Hiller decanters are suitable for dewatering fermentation residues and liquid manure

The fields of application for the algae are numerous from feed for animals to the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. But also as supplier of bio fuels the algae is very suitable. The gain of biomass is here many times higher than with ordinary useful plants. Moreover the algae can be harvested all year round. The key to the success is the right method of algae harvesting. For an effective harvesting Hiller GmbH and its partners mentioned above developed a new high-performance procedure with decanter technology.

The fields of application of the algae are numerous – they are effectively harvested with a high-performance decanter

Another biological product which can be produced with a decanter is starch. It is used in modified and hydrosylated form in the chemical, cosmetics and food industry and in the pharmaceutical industry. In starch production decanters are used in the production process itself (pulp dewatering and fruit water separation) and also in the field of industrial waste water cleaning. In this field Hiller GmbH has cooperated successfully with well-known starch producers for 45 years now.

In addition to the application fields mentioned above the production of biocatalysts and the production of many alternative fuels, for example also palm oil or rape seed oil are to be added.

There are numerous fields of application for the decanter itself by the trend to biological products. New chances are opened for the industry – especially when it is considered that the decanters run highly economically in many processes with high throughputs. Biological products are an exciting topic with great future and many chances for our today''s society.

Learn more on www.hillerzentri.de or visit us on one of the numerous exhibitions where we take part, for example at ACHEMA in Frankfurt at booth A44 in hall 5.