Animal fats for industrial use

Animal fats – including tallow, lard, fish oil, and poultry fat – are key ingredients in many industrial applications. Here’s a more detailed overview of their processing, most important uses, and main parameters:

Types of animal fats

• Tallow: Made from beef or mutton fat.
• Lard: Obtained from pig fat.
• Fish oil: Extracted from the tissue of oily fish.
• Poultry fat: Comes from the fat of chickens and other poultry.
• And more

Processing

 

1. Wet/dry rendering: The primary method of processing animal fats – the 1st step is to grind and heat the fat.  
2. Filtration/centrifugation: Step 2 removes impurities and ensures that the fat meets strict industry standards.

Mainly used in industries such as:

Cosmetics	One of the ingredients for making soaps and creams.
Biofuels	Animal fats serve as a renewable energy source by being turned into biodiesel.
Lubricants	Used in various mechanical and industrial processes.
Oleochemicals (fats for the chemical industry)	Basic material for the production of detergents, surfactants, and other chemicals.
Pet food	As a high-energy ingredient in feed formulas, they provide essential fatty acids and improve taste.

Main parameters of animal fats and their significance

Free fatty acids (FFA)	They indicate the degree of hydrolysis of triglycerides, which affects the quality of the fat.
Moisture content	High moisture content can lead to spoilage and reduced shelf life.
Impurities	Non-fat solids that can negatively affect the purity and quality of the fat.
Color	May vary by source and processing method (this affects the fat’s suitability for different applications).
Odor	Should be neutral for most applications (a strong odor may indicate spoilage or poor processing).
Melting point	Varies among different types of animal fats and affects their use in different applications.
Iodine value	Measures the degree of unsaturation of the fat, which affects its stability and shelf life.
Unsaponifiable matter	Fat components that are not saponified when reacted with alkali affect the properties and use of the fat (a parameter for the cosmetics industry).
Peroxide value	Indicates the degree of oxidation of the fat, which can affect its quality and shelf life.

Regulations in the EU

There are strict regulations in the European Union governing the processing and use of animal fats to ensure their safety and quality. They are as follows:

• Source of raw material: Only from approved sources.
• Processing standards: Specific temperatures and procedures must be complied with.
• Testing of final products: Contaminant and purity testing must take place prior to placing on the market.

Environmental impact

The processing of animal fats is an eco-friendly procedure, as it uses valuable by-products that would otherwise be wasted. It is a prime example of the circular economy in action, which we also endorse here at PEPITO.