Argent Energy to Construct Glycerin Refinery at Port of Amsterdam Biodiesel Plant

December 20, 2022

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(Argent Energy/Biobased Diesel Daily) Argent Energy, a leading European manufacturer of biodiesel in the U.K. and the Netherlands, has begun groundworks for construction of a glycerin refinery in the Port of Amsterdam that will produce 50,000 tons of refined glycerin per year.

With this construction, the company is expanding its portfolio of sustainable products and will be entering the chemical market for the first time.

Aligned with Argent Energy’s vision to reduce the world’s carbon footprint by turning waste into valuable products, Argent will be transforming a natural byproduct of the biodiesel process into a technical-grade product suitable for the chemical industry.

Argent’s new venture and expansion plans reflect the increased worldwide demand to move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources.

The producer is due to scale up biodiesel production in Amsterdam five-fold from 30 million gallons per year (mgy) to 162 mgy, consequently increasing glycerin production.

Crude glycerin is recognized by the Renewable Energy Directive II (2009/28/EC) as a processing residue, generated as a byproduct during the production of biodiesel.

The uses of crude glycerin are limited due to its contaminants: water, salts, and MONG (matter organic nonglycerol). However, Argent Energy’s decision to invest in a state-of-the-art glycerin refinery using technology and equipment provided by Andreotti Impianti of Florence, Italy, will upgrade the renewable crude glycerin created from the biodiesel process into a high-purity sustainable chemical that will have better value applications across industry.

Argent will produce 99.7 percent pure refined glycerin suitable for a wide range of technical applications. It could be used to produce ethylene glycol or propylene glycol to act as antifreeze, and could be used as a plasticizer agent for the production of polymers such as plastics and foams.

Argent’s refined glycerin can also be used for the production of epichlorohydrin, a main component for the creation of epoxy resins.

The facility is due to start production of technical-grade glycerin in December 2023. The state-of-the-art glycerin refinery will include distillation and polishing to achieve a high-purity product of 99.7 percent.

There will also be dedicated tanks, pipelines and loading bays to avoid cross-contamination.

“This refining facility will help add real value to what is a standard processing residue with limited applications,” said Erik Rietkerk, CEO of Argent Energy. “It will also help reduce carbon emissions in industrial processes where refined glycerin is an important component. Together with our upcoming five-fold increase of FAME production capacity, the construction of this glycerin refinery shows our strong belief that waste-based biodiesel will remain a crucial part of decarbonization in transport and other industries for decades to come.”

Lorenzo Petruzzi, commercial director of Andreotti Impianti, added, “In line with our brand mark, ‘Sharing Your Values,’ the satisfaction of our customers is Andreotti’s top priority, so we are very pleased to be partnering with such an innovating company as Argent Energy and providing significant added value to the glycerin side-streams from their biodiesel production.” READ MORE

Argent Energy, Leading European Manufacturer of Biofuels, to Construct Glycerine Refinery in The Port of Amsterdam and Enter The Chemical Market (Biofuels Central)
Argent expands portfolio of sustainable products (Biofuels International)
ARGENT ENERGY LAUNCHES TECHNICAL-GRADE, BIO-BASED GLYCERINE FOR THE CHEMICAL MARKET (Argent Energy)

Excerpt from Argent Energy: Argent Energy, a leading European biofuels manufacturer, has officially launched Europe’s largest facility dedicated to producing bio-based, technical-grade glycerine at its Port of Amsterdam site.

The state-of-the-art refinery will upgrade crude glycerine, a by-product of Argent’s waste-based biodiesel process, into 99.7% pure technical-grade glycerine.

This development, set to produce 50,000 tons of bio-based glycerine, provides chemical producers, for which glycerine is an important product, with an opportunity to use a bio-based alternative that provides clear environmental benefits over conventional options.

Argent Energy’s bio-based glycerine, suitable for a wide range of technical applications, offers a replacement for several petrochemicals, giving industries the opportunity to embrace a circular economy and reduce their reliance on fossil fuel-derived feedstocks.

Louise Calviou, CEO of Argent Energy said at the launch: “We are delighted to officially launch the new glycerine refinery as part of our expansion to our biodiesel facility in the port of Amsterdam, which will create over 30 new jobs once complete. Our entrance into the chemical market is driven by our goal to maximise product value and support the circular economy. By upgrading glycerine from our processes into a technical-grade product, we’re giving the chemical industry a bio-based option they can confidently use in their own products.”

In attendance at the official launch was Esther Rommel, Provincial Executive Member for Spatial Development, Economy, Ports, and Recreation in North Holland, who said of the development: “The province of North Holland wants to be fully circular by 2050. I am therefore proud of companies like Argent that invest in the port and contribute to the raw materials transition. The province will support companies in their journey to circular entrepreneurship, now and in the future.”

Also present at the event was Roon van Maanen, Director Energy and Circular Industry at Port of Amsterdam, stating: “The Port of Amsterdam is proud of this sustainable initiative by Argent Energy in the Amsterdam port area. The opening of the glycerine plant is a big step towards a circular economy where by-products are upgraded to a new technical-grade product. This fits perfectly into our strategy to be a leading European seaport, focusing on the transition to a sustainable society.”

The glycerine is made from the biodiesel production process. Fully certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), the product is fully traceable, ensuring the highest sustainability standards.

Argent Energy currently produces over 190,000 tons of waste-based biodiesel per year, supplying it to international markets for road transport, marine, and power generation. Argent Energy continues to scale up its operations and decarbonisation efforts, with plans to soon triple biofuel production at its Amsterdam site alone.

The new glycerine refinery includes full distillation and polishing techniques to achieve the high-purity product, with dedicated tanks, pipelines, and loading bays to avoid cross-contamination.

For more information about Argent Energy’s bio-based technical-grade glycerine, please visit www.argentenergy.com. READ MORE