Biodiesel waste turned into $78B green solvent

October 15, 2025

A groundbreaking discovery from Loughborough University is reshaping how the biodiesel industry views waste management and sustainability. Researchers at R3V Tech, a university spin-out founded by Dr. Adriano Randi and Professor Benjamin Buckley, have unveiled a revolutionary electrochemical process that converts crude glycerol—a low-value by-product of biodiesel production—into solketal, a valuable bio-based solvent used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fuel additives.

This clean-tech innovation promises to cut carbon emissions, reduce energy consumption, and unlock new revenue streams for biodiesel manufacturers that currently spend money disposing of glycerol waste. The new process allows direct conversion of crude glycerol into solketal—an industry chemical with a global market value exceeding $78 billion.

 “This project represents an incredible opportunity to make a real impact on the planet, the environment, and society,” said Dr. Adriano Randi, CEO and co-founder of R3V Tech.
“Our goal is to see every biodiesel producer adopt this technology and help build a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

Turning waste into opportunity

While biodiesel is already a more eco-friendly alternative to petroleum diesel, it produces significant waste. For every tonne of biodiesel manufactured, about 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of crude glycerol are generated. This by-product is often contaminated with chemicals and impurities, making it difficult and costly to process or reuse.

Traditionally, producers sell this waste cheaply to third-party refineries that convert it into solketal through energy-intensive processes involving long-distance transport and high emissions.

R3V Tech’s on-site conversion technology eliminates the need for external refining. Their electrochemical system enables biodiesel plants to convert crude glycerol directly into solketal, cutting transport costs, reducing emissions, and improving sustainability.

Operating at room temperature and standard atmospheric pressure, the system dramatically reduces energy requirements and operational costs. It even utilizes waste carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the process, further minimizing the carbon footprint of biodiesel production.

How the process works: electricity-powered sustainability

The transformation begins with filtering the crude glycerol and combining it with a CO₂-saturated solution. This mixture passes through an electrochemical reactor, where electricity drives a clean reaction that transforms the waste into solketal. The result is a high-quality bio-solvent ready for immediate use or sale—no extra refining required.

Funded through the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account and ICURe programme—both supported by Innovate UK—R3V Tech is now scaling its innovation. The company has secured additional Innovate UK funding to build a pilot demonstrator at a working biodiesel facility within the next five months.

Their vision: a self-contained, modular plug-and-play system that allows biodiesel producers to refine their waste in-house without complex infrastructure.

“This system introduces a brand-new revenue stream while reducing transport and processing emissions,” said Dr. Randi. “It’s a sustainable, profitable solution that empowers the industry to evolve.”

Driving the future of clean technology

R3V Tech’s innovation has earned recognition from the Shell Start-Up Engine and the Royal Society of Chemistry Change Makers Programme, highlighting its potential to lead the next wave of green-tech commercialization.

“Our motto—‘Reduce, Reuse, Revalue’—sums up what we stand for,” said Dr. Randi. “We’re giving producers the tools to revalue their waste, improve profitability, and contribute to a truly circular, low-carbon economy.”