Comparison of the Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of Hydrodynamic Cavitation and Mechanical Stirring Reactors for the Production of Sustainable Hevea brasiliensis Ethyl Ester

Olusegun David Samuel, Peter A. Aigba, Thien Khanh Tran (), H. Fayaz, Carlo Pastore, Oguzhan Der, Ali Erçetin, Christopher C. Enweremadu and Ahmad Mustafa
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Olusegun David Samuel: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, P.M.B 1221, Effurun 330102, Delta State, Nigeria
Peter A. Aigba: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, P.M.B 1221, Effurun 330102, Delta State, Nigeria
Thien Khanh Tran: Advanced Applied Sciences Research Group, Dong Nai Technology University, Bien Hoa City 76100, Vietnam
H. Fayaz: Power Generation Unit, Institute of Power Engineering (IPE), Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Kajang 43000, Malaysia
Carlo Pastore: Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), via F. de Blasio 5, 70132 Bari, Italy
Oguzhan Der: Department of Maritime Vehicles Management Engineering, Maritime Faculty, Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University, 10200 Bandırma, Turkey
Ali Erçetin: Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Maritime Faculty, Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University, 10200 Bandırma, Turkey
Christopher C. Enweremadu: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Private Bag X6, Florida 1709, South Africa
Ahmad Mustafa: Faculty of Engineering, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Giza 12451, Egypt

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-27

Abstract: Even though the hydrodynamic cavitation reactor (HCR) performs better than the mechanical stirring reactor (MSR) at producing biodiesel, and the ethylic process of biodiesel production is entirely bio-based and environmentally friendly, non-homogeneous ethanol with the triglyceride of underutilized oil, despite the many technical advantages, has discouraged the biodiesel industry and stakeholders from producing ethylic biodiesel in HCRs. This study examines the generation of biodiesel from rubber seed oil (RSO) by comparing the ethyl-based HCR and MSR. Despite ethyl’s technical advantages and environmental friendliness, a lack of scalable protocols for various feedstocks hinders its global adoption. The research employs Aspen HYSYS simulations to investigate the ethanolysis process for RSO in both HCRs and MSRs. The HCR proves more productive, converting 99.01% of RSO compared to the MSR’s 94.85%. The HCR’s exergetic efficiency is 89.56% vs. the MSR’s 54.92%, with significantly lower energy usage. Removing catalytic and glycerin purification stages impacts both processes, with HC showing lower exergy destruction. Economic analysis reveals the HCR’s lower investment cost and higher net present value (USD 57.2 million) and return on investment (176%) compared to the MSR’s. The HCR also has a much smaller carbon footprint, emitting 7.2 t CO 2 eq./year, while the MSR emits 172 t CO 2 eq./year. This study provides database information for quickly scaling up the production of ethanolic biodiesel from non-edible and third-generation feedstocks in the HCR and MSR.

Keywords: biodiesel; exergy; transesterification; Aspen HYSYS; reactor technology; ethyl ester; sustainability; mechanical stirring; hydrodynamic cavitation; techno-economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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