Resource circulation energy company DS Danseok has announced that it is introducing an enzymatic reaction process to improve biodiesel production efficiency. The company expects the move to reduce costs, raise profitability, expand feedstock options, and secure additional raw materials for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), reports The Asia Business Daily.
In August, DS Danseok completed a performance test of the new process at its Pyeongtaek Plant 1 and has since begun full-scale operations. The company also plans to complete installation at its Siwha plant by the end of this year. Since the process will be retrofitted to existing facilities, production will not be interrupted.
The enzymatic reaction process uses enzyme catalysts in the biodiesel manufacturing stage. This method allows the use of feedstocks with high free fatty acid (FFA) content, which normally lead to higher pretreatment costs and lower yields.
Competition for feedstocks with low FFA content has pushed prices up across the industry. By adopting the enzymatic process, DS Danseok can produce biodiesel that meets quality standards even from lower-grade raw materials.
According to the company, its proprietary continuous process technology has been applied to the new system, improving biodiesel yield by about 3 percentage points while maintaining production capacity and quality.
A company representative said that raw materials account for about 90% of biodiesel production costs, making feedstock diversification essential. “With this process, we can improve yield and profitability by using lower-grade feedstocks,” the representative said.
The company added that by broadening its feedstock base, materials previously used for biodiesel can now be redirected to SAF pretreatment, strengthening its supply chain and advancing plans for an SAF production hub.
