Soap Carbonate Technology (SCT)

Many edible oil refineries or biodiesel plants are looking to efficiently utilize byproducts and waste streams from their operations. Our Soap Carbonate Technology, licensed from Inventure Renewables Inc., transforms low-value soapstock, a waste stream from edible oil refineries or biodiesel plants, into high-purity distilled fatty acids using carbon dioxide instead of sulfuric acid. This versatile process eliminates hazardous chemicals and very challenging  byproducts. It  produces high value fatty acids at impressively high yields which can be utilized as feedstocks for biofuels like HVO and supercritical biodiesel or in the oleochemical industry.

What is Soap Carbonate Technology?

Soap Carbonate Technology converts edible and non-edible oil refinery soapstock into high-purity distilled fatty acids using thermal hydrolysis and carbon dioxide, completely replacing hazardous sulfuric acid

Licensed from Inventure Renewables, Inc., this method successfully harvests all free and bound fatty acid molecules present in the soapstock, including phospholipids and triglycerides, promoting a sustainable and circular economy.

Key advantages and performance data

• Total feedstock flexibility: Handles all types of soapstock and fatty matter from chemical refining or biodiesel production.
• Production capacity: Scales effectively for flexible operations, from 20 to 200 tonnes per day (tpd).
• Optimized OPEX: Operating expenditures are strictly contained at approximately 150 USD/tonne.
• Safe, automated operation: Completely eliminates the use of dangerous acidic chemicals, avoiding associated environmental and safety risks.
• Proven reliability: The technology is market-ready, featuring a commercial-scale plant in operation.

A zero-liquid discharge and low-carbon process

By using carbon dioxide as an acidulation agent instead of traditional sulfuric acid, the Soap Carbonate process operates as a low-carbon, zero-liquid discharge solution that significantly reduces wastewater. Furthermore, its versatile, modular "bolt-on" design allows for easy and cost-effective integration into existing refinery operations.

Circular economy and sustainable byproducts

Beyond producing easily marketable crude or distilled fatty acids, the technology prioritizes circularity. The integrated Process Water Recovery section captures water-soluble organics and carbonate salts to yield concentrated, sustainable byproducts. These include valuable meal additives (ideal for animal feed or biogas), usable distillation bottoms as industrial fuel, and clean process water ready for reuse.