Coproduction of Acrylic Acid with a Biodiesel Plant Using CO 2 as Reaction Medium: Process Modeling and Production Cost Estimation

X. Philip Ye and Shoujie Ren
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X. Philip Ye: Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Shoujie Ren: Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: Producing value-added chemicals from glycerol is imperative for the sustainable future of biodiesel. Despite worldwide efforts, the commercial production of acrylic acid from glycerol faces challenges, both technologically and economically. Based on our new technology using CO 2 as a reaction medium in a two-step process to catalytically convert glycerol to acrylic acid, we established computer simulation models to analyze the energy efficiency and estimate production costs at different scenarios. The analysis was conducted in conjunction with published data of a typical, intermediate-sized biodiesel facility, aiming at the feasibility of producing acrylic acid on-site in the context of a circular economy. Variable analysis in response to the market value of glycerol, the source and cost of carbon dioxide recycling, and the changes in process scale and conditions are also presented. Results indicates that a cost-effective supply of CO 2 to the acrylic acid plant is key to the further research and development.

Keywords: glycerol; catalytic dehydration; acrolein; partial oxidation; value-added chemicals; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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