Techno-economic evaluation of squalene recovery from oil deodorizer distillates

Publication date: Available online 9 December 2019Source: Chemical Engineering Research and DesignAuthor(s): Alexandra Bouriakova, Pedro S.F. Mendes, Kathy Elst, Jeriffa De Clercq, Joris W. ThybautAbstractThe potential of squalene recovery from oil deodorizer distillates (ODD) via a combination of supercritical ethanol esterification, supercritical CO2-extraction and additional purification is assessed via detailed process simulations. The squalene yields and purity from olive, sunflower and soybean ODD were determined. The highest squalene yield and purity could be achieved starting from olive ODD (95 gsqualene kg-1ODD, 99 wt% pure), followed by soybean ODD (31 gsqualene kg-1ODD, 98 wt% pure) and sunflower ODD (24 gsqualene kg-1ODD, 98 wt% pure). Apart from squalene, two more value-added products can be produced, i.e., high purity ethyl esters (> 88 wt%) and a mixture of tocopherols and sterols. On a scale of 1 kTonneODD per year, all feedstocks demonstrate economical potential in Europe. Even more, a flexible process configuration could be designed suitable for the treatment of the different feedstocks.Graphical abstract

Source: Chemical Engineering Research and Design - December 11, 2019 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research