Working with Universities

In 2006 the Phoenix Group and the University of Nottingham’s Environmental Technology Centre (ETC) formed a partnership that would help the university discover new areas of research and assist the Phoenix Group in its technology development programme.

In 2006 the Phoenix Group and the University of Nottingham’s Environmental Technology Centre (ETC) formed a partnership that would help the university discover new areas of research and assist the Phoenix Group in its technology development programme.

Working with ETC director Keith Baker; academic Dr Jon Andersen, director of Environmental Engineering and Project manager Phill Windsor MSc from the Faculty of Engineering the Phoenix Group is running three projects:

Pressing Technology

Partly funded by the ETC, Phoenix’s first, small oilseed press was set up in 2006.
The ETC are also involved with the current Duo Press, which presses oil and also produces the group’s Green Dragon solid fuel logs.

Other Phoenix technology developed in collaboration with the university include an oil Calorimeter and the partnership has also worked together on production projects looking at ‘Performance of Separation Technique Using Virgin Oil G-Phase’ and the development of rapid assay technique for bio-fuel derived products.

Nitrogen Generator

Finding and testing the right nitrogen generator means that the group’s own rapemeal crop can be used as a production energy source rather than feeding from the mains supply. This early philosophy of internal energy production is at the heart of the Phoenix Group’s biofuel production process. The nitrogen generator also provides an inert atmosphere for safety and prevents the absorption of water into the bio oil and bio diesel products.

Alternative Uses for Glycerol

Glycerol is one of the co-products achieved from biodiesel production. As part of the Phoenix Group’s drive to use all of the rapemeal crop for food, fuel or energy, it’s working with the University of Nottingham to find alternative uses for Glycerol. News will be available on the web site as the project develops.

Food Quality Oil

By using a “cold-crush” process the Phoenix Group is producing oil to the highest standard. Ultra-filtration tests are being undertaken to produce the ultimate food-quality rapeseed oil from the Phoenix process

Ongoing Research

The Phoenix Group are working with the university to fund biodiesel testing, which helps to build up the calibration of the NIR technology used in a partnership with quality testing manufacturer Calibre Control.

Ongoing research is also being carried out into the use of crops as sources of energy

and Phoenix director and academic Ben Guy is providing lectures to Dr. John Andresen’s students looking at the various aspects of renewable fuels.

For more information about the University of Nottingham’s ETC project please click here www.nottingham.ac.uk/etc/

University of Surrey

The Phoenix Group are also working with the University of Surrey looking into the potential uses for chaff co-product, which is removed from the seed prior to pressing.

Further information will be available as this project progresses.