The Spanish company Neol Biosolutions has received a patent in the US for its MicroBiOil 1 technology, which uses crude glycerin to make industrial oils through a process involving biotechnology.

The oils from Neol Biosolutions can be used to make advanced biofuels or as a raw material for the oleochemicals industry.

This technology has already demonstrated its usefulness on a semi-industrial scale. It improves the overall performance of biodiesel plants given that it can convert the main byproduct of these plants—crude glycerin—into new oil. In this manner a waste product becomes a new raw material.

Now the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted the Spanish firm a patent for this technology. Neol is currently in the process of ramping up sales for its new product.

Neol Biosolutions is a joint venture between Spanish oil giant Repsol and the bio-industrial division of Neuron Bio, a company which focuses on developing bioprocesses and microbe technologies for industrial applications. It also works on processes for producing advanced biofuels and bioplastics.