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Fatty acids from vegetable, fruit and garden waste

Volatile - Fatty acids from VFG waste

Is it possible to extract fatty acids from vegetable, fruit and garden waste and reuse these? We are researching this together with other organisations as part of the European research programme Volatile.

Why should we extract fatty acids from VFG waste?

VFG waste contains fatty acids. If you are able to extract those fatty acids, you can make new products with them and bring them back into the cycle. Consider products such as bioplastics and proteins for the food industry. Together with twenty partners, we are researching if it is possible to extract fatty acids from VFGF waste. These include companies from comparable sectors such as Twence, universities and technology development companies. The Volatile research programme was launched in 2016. The way the technology works was first demonstrated in the laboratory. In 2020, a pilot plant was set up at the Twence site in Hengelo to test its functionality on a larger scale.

Biobased economy: returning raw materials to the cycle

Twence strives to bring as many raw materials as possible back into the cycle. Among the ways we do this is by making compost from vegetable, fruit and garden (VFG) waste. We also ferment VFG waste. Living organisms in the fermenter produce biogas, which can be used to produce electricity and heat. We are constantly looking for new methods to get more value out of this waste stream. By processing VFG waste into new raw materials, we are contributing to the biobased economy.

How does the extraction of fatty acids from VFG waste work?

A facility for extracting fatty acids from VFG waste was developed and has been installed at Twence. The facility comprises a sea container with a reactor inside. We pump liquid organic waste into the reactor and allow the waste to react to form fatty acids. After a number of days, we then separate out the fatty acids. These are then sent to our partners who make products from them. Several products have been made, such as bioplastics and palm oil substitutes for soap.

How does this process work?

Volatile Europees project Twence — **Watch the video about the Volatile project and how we extract fatty acids from VFG waste.**

European innovation project

Within the European research programme Volatile, Twence is working together with 15 companies and 6 research partners, each with expertise in complementary fields. These partners contribute scientific knowledge in the fields of microbiology, chemistry, engineering, economics, legislation and sustainability. The partners pool their knowledge and ensure that this knowledge is circulated, so that together we can make a speedier contribution to the energy transition.