Simulation and life cycle assessment of process design alternatives for biodiesel production from waste vegetable oils

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Sérgio Morais (Author) FEUP; Teresa M. Mata (Author) FEUP; António A. Martins (Author) FEUP; Gilberto A. Pinto (Author) FEUP; Carlos A. V. Costa (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Cleaner Production

Pages: 1251-1259

ISSN: 0959-6526

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Science

Scopus

COMPENDEX

INSPEC

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences

Other information

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.04.014

Abstract (EN): This study uses the process simulator ASPEN Plus® and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to compare three process design alternatives for biodiesel production from waste vegetable oils that are: the conventional alkali-catalyzed process including a free fatty acids (FFAs) pre-treatment, the acid-catalyzed process, and the supercritical methanol process using propane as co-solvent. Results show that the supercritical methanol process using propane as co-solvent is the most environmentally favorable alternative. Its smaller steam consumption in comparison with the other process design alternatives leads to a lower contribution to the potential environmental impacts (PEI’s). The acid-catalyzed process generally shows the highest PEI’s, in particular due to the high energy requirements associated with methanol recovery operations.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific