Scientists’ Electrochemical Process Enables Biodiesel Producers to Transform Waste into Planet-Friendly Profit

(Loughborough University) An electrochemical process developed by scientists at a Loughborough University spin-out company enables biodiesel producers to turn waste into profit – while slashing emissions and energy use.

The R3V Tech team, headed by chemistry experts Dr Adriano Randi (CEO) and Professor Benjamin Buckley (CSO), have developed a process that converts crude glycerol – a low-value by-product of the biodiesel industry – into a high-value bio-derived solvent that is commonly used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and industrial sectors and as a fuel additive.

The company is currently scaling its laboratory-based process from gram-scale experiments to kilogram-per-hour production and has recently been awarded an Innovate UK grant to build and trial a pilot demonstrator at a biodiesel plant within the next five months.

“I saw this project as a big opportunity to work on something that can make a difference to the planet, the environment, and society,” said Dr Randi, CEO and co-founder of R3V Tech.

“I’d like to see every biodiesel company using this process one day – and to leave behind a legacy that helps the next generation.”

Biodiesel, a renewable fuel made from plant oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking oils, offers a greener alternative to petroleum diesel as it is biodegradable, produces significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions when burned, and can be made from waste materials rather than crude oil (a non-renewable ‘fossil fuel’ resource).

However, for every tonne of biodiesel produced, around 100 kilograms of crude glycerol is generated.

Because it is contaminated with leftover chemicals and impurities from fuel production, crude glycerol is difficult to recycle. As a result, most biodiesel producers sell it cheaply to companies that refine it and often use the refined material to produce solketal – a bio-derived solvent and fuel additive with an estimated global market value of $78 billion.

Not only does this come at a cost to biodiesel producers, but it also comes at a cost to the planet, as it involves shipping crude glycerol – often overseas – which generates emissions, and current refining methods are highly energy-intensive, requiring high temperatures and pressures.

R3V Tech’s electrochemical process will enable biodiesel producers to convert crude glycerol directly into high-value solketal on site, eliminating refining costs, even at small scale, and allowing them to use it or sell it for profit.

It removes the need to transport the by-product to other facilities, reducing transport emissions, and the Loughborough team’s process operates at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, cutting both energy consumption and operational costs. The process also utilises waste carbon dioxide, further reducing the environmental impact of refining crude glycerol.

The conversion process begins by filtering crude glycerol and mixing it into a prepared solution, which is then saturated with carbon dioxide. This mixture is drawn through an electrochemical reactor, where electricity drives a chemical reaction that transforms the waste material into solketal, which is then collected in liquid form.

The team’s long-term goal is to deliver a self-contained, modular unit housing the electrochemical reactor and its supporting components – resulting in a plug-in system that allows biodiesel producers to easily start converting crude glycerol into solketal on site.

“By integrating this new system, biodiesel producers can create a new revenue stream, reduce waste transport and processing emissions, and make their operations more sustainable”, said Dr Randi.

“R3V Tech’s motto is ‘Reduce, Reuse, Revalue’ and this captures the spirit of the innovation: empowering producers to refine their own by-products and boost profitability while contributing to a circular, low-carbon economy.”

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.
Loughborough has been ranked seventh in the Complete University Guide 2026 – out of 130 institutions.

This milestone marks a decade in the top ten for Loughborough – a feat shared only by the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, St Andrews, Durham and Imperial.

Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking. READ MORE; includes VIDEOS