BEATRICE, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Flint Hills Resources and Benefuel® Inc. announced today the startup of the Duonix Beatrice biodiesel plant and the first successful commercial-scale application of Benefuel’s innovative ENSEL technology. ENSEL technology is capable of converting a range of lower cost feedstocks such as recycled cooking oil and distillers corn oil into high-quality biodiesel. Once fully operational, the Duonix Beatrice plant will produce approximately 50 million gallons of biodiesel annually. The plant has already made commercial sales of product that meets or exceeds ASTM specifications for biodiesel.
The ENSEL technology uses a solid catalyst that combines esterification of high free fatty acid feedstocks and transesterification of triglycerides into a single step, which eliminates waste, improves process efficiency and expands feedstock options. The product is further enhanced by an upgraded, backend distillation process that removes additional impurities which, when used on high free fatty acid feedstocks such as distillers corn oil, produces a higher quality biodiesel with superior cold weather performance.
“The start of production at Duonix Beatrice is a major milestone and a significant step toward demonstrating the commercial-viability of the ENSEL technology,” said Rob Tripp, Chief Executive Officer of Benefuel. “The key question has been whether the technology can be scaled up and applied to a large production facility, so we’re very pleased to be able to say that production at Duonix Beatrice is now underway and the results are very encouraging. We believe this provides us with a strong base to grow additional production within the U.S. and worldwide.”
As an alternative energy source, biodiesel can be used in most diesel engines, especially newer ones. In addition to producing 50 million gallons of biodiesel, Duonix Beatrice is expected to produce a variety of coproducts such as glycerin, which can be used as a food additive and as a compound found in a number of medical, pharmaceutical and personal care products.
“The ENSEL technology has the potential to greatly improve both the cost competitiveness of biodiesel and its viability as a very clean diesel fuel blend component that can be used in almost any climate,” said Jeremy Bezdek, vice president of Flint Hills Resources Biofuels and Ingredients. “Duonix Beatrice has been a tremendous proving ground for the ENSEL technology and it establishes a platform for developing other valued coproducts that we believe will find success in the marketplace.”
Since 2010, Flint Hills Resources and Benefuel have worked together to test and validate the ENSEL technology for commercial-scale production. Flint Hills Resources acquired the Beatrice biodiesel plant in 2011. The plant was originally built in 2008, but was not finished and never operated. In May 2013, Benefuel announced a joint venture with Flint Hills Resources, known as Duonix, LLC, to develop domestic biodiesel production capabilities. The Duonix joint venture was formed to leverage Benefuel’s leading ENSEL biodiesel refining technology with Flint Hills Resources operating experience and establish itself as a low cost producer in the industry. Duonix Beatrice is the first joint commercial venture from the companies.
Biodiesel produced using the ENSEL technology process ensures the final product meets or exceeds all domestic and European biodiesel standards.
More information and photos of Duonix Beatrice can be found at www.fhrinfo.com.
About Benefuel® Inc.
Benefuel® Inc. is based in Irving, Texas and is a biodiesel process technology and production company with exclusive, patented global rights to next-generation technology for manufacturing biodiesel and bio-lubricants. Benefuel®’s patented ENSEL process produces biodiesel at a substantially lower cost than conventional methods by using lower cost, high free fatty acid feedstocks and converting them efficiently into biodiesel and glycerin.
About Flint Hills Resources
Flint Hills Resources, LLC, through its subsidiaries, is a leading refining, chemicals and biofuels company with operations primarily in the Midwest and Texas. Its manufacturing capability is built upon six decades of refining experience, and the company has expanded its operations through capital projects and acquisitions worth more than $13 billion since 2002. Flint Hills Resources’ subsidiaries produce and market gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, ethanol, biodiesel, liquefied natural gas, olefins, polymers, intermediate chemicals, as well as base oils, corn oil and dried distillers grain.
Flint Hills Resources operates ethanol plants in Arthur, Fairbank, Iowa Falls, Menlo and Shell Rock, Iowa, Fairmont, Nebraska, and Camilla, Georgia. The plants have a combined annual capacity of 820 million gallons of ethanol.
The refining business operates refineries in Minnesota (Rosemount) and Texas (Corpus Christi), with a combined crude oil processing capacity of more than 600,000 barrels per day. The petrochemical business includes production facilities in Illinois and Texas. The asphalt business produces and markets product in the Midwest. A subsidiary owns an interest in a lubricants base oil facility in Louisiana.
The company is based in Wichita, Kansas, and its more than 5,000 employees strive to create value for customers and society. More information about the company is available at FHR.com.
