Biodiesel Production Record and Clark Solutions

The Industry Surpasses Expectations

According to the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), Brazil set a new biodiesel production record in July, reaching 3.82 million barrels of oil equivalent — a 12.9% increase over the previous month and 21.5% higher than July 2019.

Clark Solutions in the Record

For mass transfer processes, Clark Solutions provides random and structured packings, liquid distributors, and, in some cases, mist eliminators.

These components enable existing columns to operate at higher capacity, with lower steam consumption in reboilers and reduced water usage in condensers.

Unlike conventional setups, Clark’s solutions produce higher-purity outputs with minimal product losses.

Clark Solutions has delivered 40 different solutions across 13 biodiesel production units, applied in:

Phase Separation:

Reducing moisture in biodiesel

Lowering glycerol content in biodiesel

Recovering olein during glycerin treatment

Mass Transfer:

Concentrating glycerin and converting waste into a commercial product

Recovering methanol with low moisture for reintroduction into transesterification

Drying biodiesel to meet biofuel specifications

MaxiPac® Structured Packings

These high-efficiency internals ensure low pressure drop and minimal reflux ratio, maintaining product purity and minimizing losses.

Clark uses advanced hydraulic and thermodynamic modeling to select and size each unit — ensuring optimal mass transfer performance.

PlatePack® Coalescers

Used for liquid-liquid phase separation, PlatePack® accelerates the settling of heavy phases in existing decanters.

This allows for increased flow capacity and reduced equipment size, while maintaining separation efficiency.

Available in a variety of materials, including high-grade alloys, and designed to fit through vessel manways for easy field installation.

MaxiFlow® Liquid Distributors

MaxiFlow® works in conjunction with packings to optimize liquid distribution.

Selection is based on flow rate, column diameter, irrigation rate, and installation type, ensuring maximum efficiency for each process. 

CMTP® Random Packings

These premium random packings are specially designed for viscous environments like biodiesel production.

CMTP® ensures excellent performance and resistance to fouling, making them ideal for challenging industrial conditions.

FRI Membership

Clark Solutions has been an active member of Fractionation Research Inc. (FRI) since 2015 — the only Brazilian manufacturer in this global research consortium.

This allows access to cutting-edge knowledge and proprietary design software, ensuring top-tier mass transfer solutions.

Pilot Plant

To further advance its products, Clark Solutions is building a research center with a pilot distillation and absorption column.

This will enable testing of different internals, helping refine hydraulic, thermodynamic, and mechanical models, supporting new product development, energy efficiency, and field installation optimization.