The HERO BX Plant
We are proven innovators who have overcome industry, legislative, and manufacturing hurdles through dynamic management and unique production processes. We are able to efficiently produce very high quality biodiesel from both first and second generation feedstocks at high volumes. We have incorporated the continuous flow process technology of Desmet Ballestra for chemical and physical feedstock refining, transesterification (TE), acid esterification, methanol rectification and crude glycerin refining to produce up to 136,000 gallons of superior quality biodiesel each day. Our on-site, state-of-the-art laboratory is able to run both ASTM and EN biodiesel testing slates, is BQ-9000 quality certified, runs Proctor and Gamble glycerin tests, AOCS crude and refined fats and oil tests and many more analytical tests.
Within the pretreatment capabilities of HERO BX are physical refining of high FFA feedstocks and chemical refining of low FFA feedstocks and feedstock blends. Physical refining allows HeroBX to recover the free fatty acids directly which can be sold or made into biodiesel through acid esterification. Chemical refining is done on products with a strong chelating acid and a caustic solution to remove unwanted metals, FFA and physical contaminants.
The biodiesel reaction (transesterification) capabilities of HERO BX are astonishing to the eye, but even more so by the controlled quality of the product. In this TE process a specific feedstock blend is mixed with methanol and a catalyst, through a continuous flow system, to produce methyl esters and a continuous flow of glycerin. The methyl esters are washed, dried and filtered to remove any undesirable, even harmful contaminants. Through a rigorous internal process quality testing protocol, HERO BX ensures that their HBX product line is of the highest quality.
Side systems
HERO BX also utilizes state of the art continuous flow side systems to improve the overall efficiency of the company. A crude glycerin refining system to meet continuous quality parameters for crude glycerin is catching the eye of many feed and glycerin refining companies. The glycerin is acidulated to remove a portion of the standing FFA, pH adjusted to control physical properties as it gets dried in a column to remove both excess water and methanol. An acid esterification system is being utilized to convert FFA from feedstock refining, which is usually discarded or sold for pennies per pound, into methyl esters and be included into the washing, drying and filtering of the advanced TE system at HERO BX. The implementation of a full scale, continuous flow methanol rectification column ensures that the excess alcohol, needed to force the TE reaction to completion, is fully recovered and reused.
Laboratory
HERO BX set out to create the most sophisticated laboratory of any biodiesel production facility in America. Utilizing the most state of the art instrumentation and extremely precise analytical techniques, HERO BX’s laboratory fully conforms to the ASTM and EN biodiesel testing requirements. Accreditations through the Biodiesel accreditation commission’s BQ-9000 program for a Producer and Marketer were achieved in 2008. The Laboratory is now offering testing services as a certified third party testing facility.