#Industry News
AVOIDING EXPLOSIONS IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY WITH NITROGEN
HIGH-PURITY RAW MATERIALS FROM THE BY-PRODUCTS OF BIODIESEL PRODUCTION
Producing diesel from plant-based raw materials creates unwanted by-products. Glaconchemie takes such by-products off of biodiesel manufacturers’ hands and uses them to develop high-purity raw materials. Glaconchemie uses self-produced nitrogen to overlay the production steps during further processing.
As specialists in processing the by-products of biodiesel production, Glaconchemie takes the accruing by-products off of biodiesel producers’ hands. One of these products is so-called substandard glycerine (SSG). This toxic and flammable substance can form sediments, clog fuel filters and damage diesel engines. It therefore needs to be removed from the fuel and be disposed of in the proper manner.
Following HGV collection of the SSG, it is transferred to the gas displacement system and pumped to two large production systems at Glaconchemie via pipelines. In the system, the substandard glycerine is initially separated into its components. Separated methanol and free fatty acid are sent back to the biodiesel producers for further use in various biodiesel production processes. Separated potassium sulphate can subsequently be used as a component of potassium fertilisers in winegrowing, for example. Crude glycerine is also separated and is further processed to create high-purity glycerine in further process steps as part of neutralisation and filtering as well as rectification (distillation). Technical glycerine has a purity of 99.5% and can be used in many industrial areas. For example, this colourless and odourless liquid is used in the production of plastics (alkyd resins), polyurethane foams and antifreezes. Pharmaceutical glycerine with a purity of 99.7% is used as a moisturiser particularly in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry where it serves as a raw material in the production of creams, ointments and toothpaste. In the food industry, glycerine is used as a food additive (E 422) to keep food moist – as is the case with chewing gum.
Crude glycerine, another by-product, is also refined in Merseburg. The resulting sodium chloride is centrifuged out and can therefore be marketed to the mining industry. In addition, activated carbon bleaching of the crude glycerine produces valuable glycerine of highly pure (99.7%) quality as the end product. Glycerine is kosher, halal and certified as food-safe.
In a number of process steps at Glaconchemie's plant, hazardous vapours are formed when handling substandard glycerine and crude glycerine and their components, particularly methanol. In combination with oxygen, the flammable substances create an explosive gas mixture which can result in explosions if combined with an ignition source. To prevent this from happening, hazardous system components, agitators, centrifuges, storage tanks and pipe systems are overlaid with nitrogen. The inert gas displaces the oxygen in the headspace above the liquid, efficiently preventing the danger of explosions.
An Inmatec nitrogen generator IMT PN 3000 is used to produce the requisite nitrogen quantity of 140 m3/h for the various production steps in both systems. In addition to the generator, the container solution, which is located outside right next to the plant, comprises two compressors and a nitrogen buffer vessel with a volume of 10,000 litres.
"For the quantities of nitrogen we require, on-site production is the most cost-effective solution. It also protects us from supply shortages associated with liquid nitrogen delivery. In order to keep the suspension of production processes as brief as possible, we opted for a finished complete system from Inmatec. Setup and installation took place very quickly. Another great advantage is the recording of all operational data, which we can monitor and control using the Touch Control Panel or remotely using a PC. The generator is equipped with robust technology and requires little maintenance – which we're also pleased about," remarks Martin Drygala, Production Manager at Glaconchemie GmbH.
