Solvent-free biorefinery of leather fleshing waste into FAMEs and nitrogen-rich co-products
This study presents a solvent-free method for converting bovine and ovine fleshing waste into biodiesel-compatible compounds and a nitrogen-rich solid by-product. The process combines mechanical lipid separation using Tricanter® centrifugation with an optimized alkaline conversion step. Lipid recove...
| Autores: | , , |
|---|---|
| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat de Lleida (UdL) |
| Repositorio: | Repositori Obert UdL |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:repositori.udl.cat:10459.1/468491 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2025.101065 https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/468491 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Leather waste Tricanter® centrifugation Alkaline transesterification Circular bioeconomy Organic fertilizer |
| Sumario: | This study presents a solvent-free method for converting bovine and ovine fleshing waste into biodiesel-compatible compounds and a nitrogen-rich solid by-product. The process combines mechanical lipid separation using Tricanter® centrifugation with an optimized alkaline conversion step. Lipid recovery exceeded 92 %, and under optimal reaction conditions, conversion yields surpassed 95 % without the need for pre-treatment. Bovine-derived esters complied with international biodiesel standards, while ovine esters showed promising properties for thermal energy storage applications. The solid fraction, containing up to 9.3 % nitrogen and no regulated heavy metals, met European requirements for use as fertilizer. The process consumed approximately 23 % less energy than conventional methods, and techno-economic analysis supports its industrial feasibility. Overall, this integrated approach offers a scalable, sustainable solution for tannery waste valorization aligned with circular bioeconomy goals. |
|---|