BDF Refinery and Wastewater Issues - December 2008

BDF Refinery and Wastewater Issues - December 2008
December 2008

Biodiesel fuel (BDF), which is made from waste cooking oil, is being introduced by local governments and private organizations nationwide as a renewable energy source. Among them, there are many cases where waste cooking oil collected from school lunches and households is utilized for public vehicles and garbage collection trucks as part of efforts to build a regional recycling-oriented society and to combat global warming.

However, "glycerin" and "alkali cleaning wastewater" generated in the manufacturing process of this BDF are becoming a major environmental problem. Since chemicals such as methanol and sodium hydroxide are used in the refining process, wastewater containing harmful components is generated in the cleaning process, which places a burden on rivers and sewage treatment facilities. Small-scale facilities, in particular, have inadequate wastewater treatment capacity and risk causing environmental pollution if the wastewater is discharged untreated.

In addition to wastewater, there is also the problem of disposing of glycerin, a byproduct of wastewater, which may be left unattended or illegally dumped if treatment costs and a recipient cannot be secured. In response to these problems, the Ministry of the Environment has prepared guidelines and urged the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and thorough operation and management. However, since these guidelines are not legally binding, the response has varied from region to region and business to business.

In order to promote BDF projects in a sustainable manner in the future, it is considered essential to support the development of wastewater treatment technology and establish a unified management system through the establishment of a legal system, based on a full assessment of the environmental impact during production. Even for renewable energy, efforts are required to reduce the environmental impact of the entire process.

Related Sources.

- Wastewater from BDF - Environmental Q&A
　This section details the composition and impact of wastewater generated during the production of BDF derived from vegetable oils and fats. Particularly important is the control of oil, glycerin, and alkali components.

- Biodiesel Fuel Production and Sales Business - Daiseki Eco Solutions
　Introduces examples of technologies that reduce environmental impact by adopting a manufacturing process that does not require wastewater treatment.

- "Biodiesel Fuel Production Methods and Current Utilization" (in Japanese)
　Technical explanation of the BDF production process, its environmental impact, and issues related to wastewater treatment and by-product treatment.