The problems in design and detailed analyses of energy consumption for biodiesel synthesis at supercritical conditions

Abstract

The main goal of this study is analysis the existing and recently published data related to design of larger scale plant for biodiesel synthesis at supercritical conditions. Such analysis was focused on the problem of insufficiency of the previously in the literature published industrial plant design simulation. A continuous process flowsheet for biodiesel production from triglycerides under supercritical conditions of alcohol (SCA) was analyzed and influence of triglycerides degree of conversion on overall energy consumption in SCA was examined. A comparison between the homogenous alkali-catalyzed alcoholysis (HACA) and the supercritical methanolysis of triglyceride was made in order to point out the advantages and disadvantages of each of analyzed process. Furthermore, the usage of energy in each step and environmentally weak points of both process are discussed and the possible solutions for avoiding them are proposed.