FAQ’s

 

We provide full-service support – including site consultations, system sizing, technical training, SCADA integration, maintenance agreements, and assistance with financing or green energy subsidies.

 

What products and services does Biotech offer?

We specialise in advanced oilseed processing (cold-press, filtration, refining) and bioenergy systems (biogas plants and biodiesel production). Our modular tech suits small farms, processors, co‑ops, and off‑grid operations.

Cold-pressed oils are extracted mechanically at low temperatures, preserving nutrients, flavour, and aroma—without solvents or heat. Unlike refined oils, they maintain natural qualities that benefit both culinary and wellness uses.

Absolutely! Our modular biodiesel systems combine Farmet cold presses with refining and transesterification. They can produce 250–2,000 L/day of EN‑14214 and ISCC‑certified biofuel on-site.

Our Farmet BPS projects use anaerobic digesters to convert manure, silage, and crop waste into biogas, which powers CHP units for electricity and heat. Daily outputs range from 75–250 kWe, plus thermal energy, with digestate as a high-value fertiliser.

It depends on your resources:

  • Choose biogas if you have livestock/manure or crop residues and want energy + fertiliser.
  • Choose biodiesel if you’re growing oilseeds (sunflower, canola, soybean) and want to make clean fuel.
    We offer a comparison table on our site to help guide the decision.

Definitely. Cold-pressing uses no chemicals and maintains oil quality. Biogas systems reduce methane emissions and recycle nutrients, while biodiesel replaces fossil fuels—both supporting a circular, sustainable farming model.

We offer full-service support: site consultations, system sizing, technical training, SCADA setup, maintenance agreements, and help with financing or green subsidies.

You can perform simple tests at home, like checking color consistency or measuring density, but the most reliable way is through lab testing for refractive index and specific gravity. For peace of mind, always choose suppliers who are transparent about sourcing and quality control.

That’s normal! Sediments or flavour compounds are often left in the oil, giving it a natural cloudiness. Variations can also come from batch differences, seed harvests, and filtration methods.

  • Biogas systems demand consistent organic feed: livestock manure, silage, crop residues
  • Biodiesel units need high-quality sunflower, canola, soybean oil to ensure clean transesterification and high biodiesel yield

A mismatch can reduce efficiency, energy output, or system performance.

It depends:

  • Oils like avocado or groundnut have relatively high smoke points (~160–180 °C), making them suitable for sautéing.
  • More delicate oils (e.g., flaxseed, walnut) are better for dressings or finishing. Cloudiness during heating can occur but isn’t harmful.

Cold processing avoids solvents but doesn’t eliminate other risks:

  • Pesticide residues – seeds grown conventionally can carry lipophilic chemicals.
  • Mycotoxins – mold from improper storage can contaminate oils.
  • Heavy metals – absorbed from soil into seeds and oil.

Quality starts with sourcing – choose well-tested, high-grade seed.

Yes, optimal performance needs:

  • Regular checks of temperature, pH, and gas output
  • Avoiding contaminants like plastics
  • Routine cleaning
  • Monitoring methane levels to maintain digestibility.
  • Biodiesel: Store in clean, dark, dry tanks (aluminum, stainless steel, fluoropolymers). Avoid copper or brass.
  • Biogas: Equipment must include gas tight digesters, negative-pressure safety valves, and H₂S filters. Regular leak checks are critical since methane is flammable/explosive.

Cold Pressing of Oil Seeds

Suitable for the pressing of:
Canola, Sunflower, Flax as well as Jatropha, Hemp, Mustard, Poppy, Artichoke, Primrose, Amaranth, Sea Buckthorn, Grapeseed or Copra.

For more information on oil seed pressing please view: Complex Oil Processing Overview

DUO Models

This model is designated for pressing all common oilseeds. The drive is based on a 3-phase electric motor. The press enables only elementary process optimisation by means of the output nozzle.

This model is designated for pressing of all oilseeds – even the less common ones – with oil content above 12%. The drive is based on a 3-phase electric motor and it is equipped with a frequency converter, which makes it possible to adjust revolutions of the main drive. That improves the possibilities of process optimization.

This model is suitable for pressing of hard oilseeds with low oil content (however no less than 10 %). The press is driven with a more powerful 3-phase motor equipped with a frequency converter, which makes it possible to adjust the revolutions of the main drive. That improves the possibilities of process optimization. The press is fitted with special matrices for pressing tiny seeds (like amaranth, poppy, etc.).

Contact

Contact Us

Our Address

21 Staats-President CR Swart Street Reitz
• Free State • South Africa • 9810

Email Us

info@biotechsa.net

Call Us

+27 82 783 9402

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