Loughborough spin-out R3V Tech turns biodiesel waste into high-value solketal using a low-energy, eco-friendly process.
An innovation out of Loughborough University could change how biodiesel producers think about waste.Scientists at R3V Tech, a spin-out company led by Dr. Adriano Randi and Professor Benjamin Buckley, have developed an electrochemical process that turns crude glycerol, a low-value by-product of biodiesel production, into a high-value bio-derived solvent used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and as a fuel additive.
The technology promises to cut emissions, reduce energy use, and open new revenue streams for biodiesel producers who currently pay to dispose of the by-product. R3V Tech’s process converts crude glycerol directly into solketal, a compound with a global market value estimated at $78 billion.“I saw this project as a big opportunity to work on something that can make a difference to the planet, the environment, and society,” said Dr. Randi, CEO and co-founder of R3V Tech.“I’d like to see every biodiesel company using this process one day – and to leave behind a legacy that helps the next generation.”From burden to benefitBiodiesel, made from plant oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking oils, is already greener than petroleum diesel. Yet for every tonne of biodiesel produced, over 220 pounds of crude glycerol is generated.This crude glycerol is contaminated with leftover chemicals and impurities, making it difficult and costly to recycle.Most biodiesel producers sell it cheaply to refineries that process it into solketal, a step that involves energy-intensive methods and international shipping, adding to global emissions.R3V Tech’s process changes that equation. The electrochemical system enables producers to convert crude glycerol directly into solketal on-site. That means no costly transport, no energy-heavy refining, and no waste.The process runs at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, drastically reducing energy consumption and operational costs. It also uses waste carbon dioxide, further cutting the carbon footprint of biodiesel production.Electricity-powered innovationThe transformation begins by filtering crude glycerol and mixing it into a prepared solution saturated with carbon dioxide. The mixture then passes through an electrochemical reactor, where electricity drives a reaction that converts the waste into solketal. The result: a liquid product that can be used or sold immediately.R3V Tech’s system was developed through the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account and ICURe programme, both funded by Innovate UK to support the commercialization of university research. The company recently received an Innovate UK grant to build a pilot demonstrator at a biodiesel plant within the next five months.The long-term goal is to offer a self-contained, modular unit, a plug-in system that lets biodiesel producers refine their own waste effortlessly.“To integrate this system means creating a new revenue stream, reducing waste transport and processing emissions, and making operations more sustainable,” said Dr. Randi.Selected for the Shell Start-Up Engine and Royal Society of Chemistry Change Makers programme, R3V Tech is positioning itself at the forefront of clean-tech innovation.“R3V Tech’s motto is ‘Reduce, Reuse, Revalue,’” said Dr. Randi. “This captures the spirit of the innovation: empowering producers to refine their own by-products and boost profitability while contributing to a circular, low-carbon economy.”
Carbon Reduction Clean Energy Electrochemical Process Innovate UK Loughborough University R3V Tech Solketal
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