Reactive separation processes applied to biodiesel production from residual oils and fats: Design, optimization and techno-economic assessment of routes using solid catalysts

Allan Almeida Albuquerque, Flora T.T. Ng, Leandro Danielski and Luiz Stragevitch

Energy, 2022, vol. 240, issue C

Abstract: Three solid acid-catalyzed (SAC) processes for biodiesel production from residual oil and fats (ROFs) with HWSi/Al2O3 as catalyst were designed and optimized using Aspen Plus: simultaneous esterification, transesterification, and methanol separation based on catalytic distillation (CD) (process A) and catalytic absorption (CA) (process B), where CA has not yet been investigated in these conditions; and hydro-esterification industrial process using CD (process C1). For the first time, processes A, B and C based on SAC route were optimized and compared regarding to techno-economic and environmental aspects. Processes A and B were the most economically and eco-friendly options. Compared to process B, process A was the best option due to simpler flowsheet. Process A2 presented 25.6, 60.1, 4.6, 8.6, 52.6 and 62.8% lower capital, utilities (Cutil), operation, total annualized (TAC), waste treatment (Cwaste) and CO2 emission costs than process C1. A global optimization developed for process A saved 430 k$/year on TAC. After a heat integration, process B presented 4.9 and 10.8% lower Cutil and Cwaste than process A. Process A was also designed for FFA levels of 5–25 wt%, where the biodiesel break-even price remained competitive (0.48–0.75 $/kg) with diesel price.

Keywords: Biodiesel; Catalytic absorption; Catalytic distillation; Esterification; Solid acid-catalyzed (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:240:y:2022:i:c:s0360544221030334

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.122784

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