Abstract
Fossil fuel shortage is a major challenge worldwide. Therefore, research is currently underway to investigate potential renewable energy sources. Biodiesel is one of the major renewable energy sources that can be obtained from oils and fats by transesterification. However, biodiesel obtained from vegetable oils as feedstock is expensive. Thus, an alternative and inexpensive feedstock such as waste cooking oil (WCO) can be used as feedstock for biodiesel production. In this project, techno-economic analyses were performed on the biodiesel production in Hong Kong using WCO as a feedstock. Three different catalysts such as acid, base, and lipase were evaluated for the biodiesel production from WCO. These economic analyses were then compared to determine the most cost-effective method for the biodiesel production. The internal rate of return (IRR) sensitivity analyses on the WCO price and biodiesel price variation are performed. Acid was found to be the most cost-effective catalyst for the biodiesel production; whereas, lipase was the most expensive catalyst for biodiesel production. In the IRR sensitivity analyses, the acid catalyst can also acquire acceptable IRR despite the variation of the WCO and biodiesel prices.
Highlights
The continuous increase in energy demand is contributing to petroleum-based oil depletion
The techno-economic studies using these catalysts for biodiesel production processes were carried out using Aspen Plus as simulation tool
waste cooking oil (WCO) contains around 2% to 7% free fatty acids (FFA) and it is assumed in this study that the WCO contains 6% FFA [15]
Summary
The continuous increase in energy demand is contributing to petroleum-based oil depletion. Renewable energy sources are required for satisfying the energy demand In this regard, biodiesel is considered a viable alternative fuel. Lipid from food waste is used as a nonedible resource for biodiesel production [8,9] Along this line, one of the alternative feedstock to produce biodiesel is waste cooking oil (WCO). It is estimated that 20,000 tons of WCO are generated in Hong Kong each year [14] This data suggests that large quantities of waste cooking oil are available in Hong Kong. Along this line, WCO can be utilized as a beneficial and viable feedstock for the biodiesel production in Hong Kong. The techno-economic studies using these catalysts for biodiesel production processes were carried out using Aspen Plus as simulation tool
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