R3VTech Ltd. provides an electrochemical process that converts low-valued crude glycerol—a by-product of biodiesel production—into solketal, a high-value bio-derived chemical for industrial applications. The technology operates on-site at biodiesel plants under mild conditions, utilizing waste carbon dioxide to enhance circularity and create new revenue streams for producers. The patented solution offers a cost-effective, scalable alternative to traditional glycerol valorization methods.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Biodiesel producers generate large volumes of crude glycerol as a by-product, which has low market value and represents a significant waste-management challenge. Traditional glycerol purification and valorization routes are energy-intensive, require large-scale centralized facilities, and are economically unviable at lower production volumes, leaving producers with limited options for monetizing this waste stream.
Solution
R3VTech Ltd. offers a patented electrochemical technology that converts low-value crude glycerol directly into solketal, a high-value eco-friendly bio-derived chemical used across fuel additive, solvent, and pharmaceutical industries. The process operates under mild conditions at the biodiesel producer's own plant, eliminating the need for costly transport and centralized processing. By also utilizing waste carbon dioxide in the electrochemical reaction, the technology enhances circularity and reduces overall emissions. This modular, cost-effective approach achieves profitability at lower break-even volumes than traditional production methods, enabling producers to generate a new revenue stream while reducing industrial waste.
Target Audience
Primary customers are biodiesel producers seeking to monetize crude glycerol by-product streams, as well as chemical manufacturers and industrial partners in the fuel additive, solvent, and pharmaceutical sectors looking for sustainable bio-derived chemical inputs.
Features
- Patented electrochemical process for converting crude glycerol to solketal without pre-purification
- On-site, modular reactor design that operates at individual biodiesel production facilities
- Uses waste carbon dioxide as a feedstock, improving overall process circularity
- Mild reaction conditions that lower energy requirements compared to conventional thermal catalytic routes
- Scalable flow electrochemistry technology developed from academic research at Loughborough University
- Serves downstream markets including fuel additives, solvents, and pharmaceuticals