Research Projects

The R&D&I Department has worked on numerous research projects funded by the CDTI and the IDEA Agency of the Regional Government of Andalusia, among other research support organizations. These projects have been carried out in collaboration with other companies, as well as several of the most prestigious Spanish Universities and Research Centers.

Below is a summary of some of the projects conducted in recent years:

• INVESTIGO Program,the purpose of this grant is the hiring of young jobseekers (aged 16 to 29) by private sector companies investing in research and innovation, for the implementation of R&I initiatives.
  
• REINTEGRA Project, funded by the IDEA Agency (Innovation and Development Agency of Andalusia) and in progress since February 2022. The overall objective of the project is the comprehensive recovery of industrial fatty waste generated in large volumes. The project aims to cover everything from the development of an optimized logistics system for the collection and treatment of the various streams under evaluation, to the necessary pre-treatment and oil recovery. It also encompasses the transformation of the oil into sustainable and advanced biofuels, and the utilization of the dry, degreased residue as biofertilizer and/or compost for agronomic applications, as well as for energy production in biomass boilers.

• Proyecto BIOGLICAR, funded by CDTI, in progress since August 2022. This is a collaborative project with the participation of Fertiberia, a leading company in fertilizer production, as a partner. The general objective of the project is the development of a novel process for obtaining glycerol carbonate, a building block with great potential as a monomer, which can be used for the manufacture of a wide variety of high-value-added bio-based compounds and polymers with a wide variety of applications. The success of the project will allow BIO-OILS to diversify its business outside the energy sector, allowing its transformation into a biorefinery from which various sustainable products with applications in different industrial sectors would be obtained from sub-products.

  Proyecto REVALORA, project funded by CDTI, in progress since May 2019. The general objective of the project is to develop and validate a new processing technology for various waste raw materials for the manufacture of high-value-added, advanced, and more sustainable biofuel, maintaining compliance with the most demanding quality requirements, beyond EN14214.

  Proyecto FLEXIWASTE, project funded by CDTI, in progress since April 2019. This is a collaborative project in which Cepsa and Clariant, leading companies in their sector, participate as partners. The general objective of the FLEXIWASTE project is to develop a new refining, purification, and processing method for fatty materials of residual origin for use as starting material for the production of fully sustainable, double-counting biofuels.

  Proyecto BIOCOMP, project funded by CDTI, carried out between 2017 and 2019. The objective of the project is the comprehensive use of high-value-added phytonutrients present in crude palm oil. The project will serve to open a new line of business for the company through the purification and commercialization of new products with applications in nutrition or cosmetics.

  Proyecto Q+, carried out between 2011-2012: “Development of a New Biodiesel Quality to Increase its Use in the Automotive Sector.” The main objective of the project was to considerably increase the quality of biodiesel and the efficiency of the plant, without incurring higher production costs, through the study of the product and the critical quality parameters in biodiesel production, and its application for the development of new manufacturing processes. The project ended successfully in 2012.

  Proyecto EMANA: The project successfully carried out between 2010 and 2012 called “Study on alternative raw materials in animal nutrition,” and funded by CDTI, covered the objective of valorizing and evaluating the use of new and alternative raw materials as energy and protein sources for animal feed: derivatives from biofuel manufacturing (glycerin, DDGS, and lecithins), dairy co-products (lactated extruded cereals, mother liquors, wheys, and fatty acids) and extruded legumes and oilseeds (soybeans, peas, rapeseed, and linseed). Bio-Oils participated in a national consortium formed by leading animal feed manufacturing companies such as Coren or Núter. As a result of the work carried out in this project, a research paper was published jointly with Dr. Gonzalo González Mateos’s group from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (“Influence of source and level of glycerin in the diet on growth performance, liver characteristics, and nutrient digestibility in broilers from hatching to 21 days of age”; Poultry Science; 2014 Nov; 93(11):2855-63. doi: 10.3382/ps.2014-04156).

  Proyecto ALGINCO: during 2009-2010, a strategic project was carried out whose objective was the evaluation of the application of microalgae biomass as an alternative raw material to the first-use vegetable oils currently used in biodiesel production. The project was carried out in collaboration with Cepsa, the University of Cádiz, and the University of Huelva. As a result of this research work, a scientific publication emerged in collaboration with Professor Carlos Vílchez’s group (“Lipid accumulation and antioxidant activity in the eukaryotic acidophilic microalga Coccomyxa (strain onubensis) under nutrient starvation”; Journal of Applied Phycology; June 2015, 27, 3, pp. 1109-1108) and a conference communication (Productivity and lipid accumulation of a novel acidophile microalgae; 5th International Congress on Biotechnology; BIOTEC 2010).

  Proyecto BIOSOST, carried out between 2013-2015: “New Generation Sustainable Biodiesel,” whose objective was the introduction of new sustainable raw materials for biodiesel production. A complete prospecting of fatty raw materials from the oleochemical sector was carried out, without application in the food industry and/or that are waste materials, which can be revalued and converted into second-generation biodiesel. The process developed within the framework of the project has been the subject of a Spanish patent (No. P 201600775). The project has been funded by CDTI, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and co-financed with European Union Structural Funds.

  Proyecto YELLOWHORN, carried out between 2012-2015: “Research for the Adaptation and Utilization of Yellowhorn in Europe.” A cooperative project whose objective was the evaluation of the cultivation of Yellowhorn, a plant native to China, studying its use for cosmetic purposes and for the manufacture of biodiesel due to its high fat content. The remaining material after fat extraction has applications for biogas production or for animal feed. The project has been funded by CDTI, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and co-financed with European Union Structural Funds.

  Proyecto CATALBIO, project funded by CDTI, in progress since January 2016. The objective of the project is to continue the development of a novel technology to process various waste raw materials for the manufacture of more sustainable advanced biodiesel, maintaining compliance with the most demanding quality requirements, beyond EN14214. The success of the project will allow BIO-OILS to obtain an advanced and sustainable biodiesel, both at the laboratory and pilot levels, through a novel method of esterification and transesterification in a single step. The project has been funded by CDTI, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and co-financed with European Union Structural Funds.

  Proyecto PHI-MES, project funded by CDTI, in progress since November 2016. The objective of the project is the opening of new business lines for the company through the development of new products with applications as surfactants obtained from FAME or sustainable vegetable oils, thus covering the existing market demand for sustainable and biodegradable surfactant products that allow the replacement of those currently derived from petroleum. The project has been funded by CDTI, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and co-financed with European Union Structural Funds.

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