Viability Of Biodiesel Production Research Articles

Viability of biodiesel production from a thermophilic microalga in conventional and alternative culture media

Microalgae biodiesel production depends on several factors to minimize the costs of the production process from both biomass and biodiesel. In some outdoor systems, the temperature can be higher than 35 °C, which is lethal for several algae. Prospecting microalga from thermal environments seems to be a good option. Therefore, the objective of this work was to isolate a microalga (Acutodesmus obliquus (Turpin) Hegewald and Hanagata) from thermal water and evaluate its cultivation productivity in Bold Basal Medium (BBM) and in lower cost alternative media. One alternative medium contained only the main growth ingredients (DAF), the other included these same ingredients with the addition of wastewater from the purification of grease-based raw materials (DAF + OGR). Microalga biodiesel productivity was also compared with the biodiesel yield of soybean, which is one of the main raw materials currently used for biodiesel production. The microalga was shown to provide biomass with similar productivity using the three different culture media in log phase. The microalga exhibited biodiesel productivity from 46 to 61 times higher than soybean; using 5.5–7.2% of the water and 1.6–2.2% of the land required for soybean cultivation to produce the same amount of biodiesel. The DAF + OGR medium, which costs 29% of the cost of the BBM medium, proved to be an efficient alternative medium compared to other in biomass productivity. Levels of tri-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids from A. obliquus microalga were slightly higher than those standardized by EN14214, requiring that the biodiesel be mixed with antioxidants.

Cost analysis of biodiesel from kernel oil of tea seed

ABSTRACTCurrently, biodiesel is mainly produced from conventionally grown edible oils such as soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, and palm. To obtain biodiesel from edible oils is currently not economically feasible to substitute petroleum diesel. Biodiesel was obtained from kernel oil of tea seed (Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze). The predominant fatty acid was oleic acid (62.5% wt) in the tea kernel oil, followed by linoleic acid (18.1% wt). The seed kernel oil was transesterified to methyl esters using KOH catalytic methanol. The tea kernel oil has lower pour point and lower viscosity compared with common vegetable oils. Lower-cost raw materials are needed since biodiesel from food-grade oils is not economically competitive with petroleum-based diesel fuel. Biodiesel production costs can vary widely by feedstock, conversion process, scale of production, and geographic region. The cost of feedstock is a major economic factor in the viability of biodiesel production. Feedstock costs typically account for 60–80% of the total costs of biodiesel production. The crude tea kernel oil is one of the cheapest raw materials for biodiesel production.

PROCESSO ALTERNATIVO DE DESACIDIFICAÇÃO DO ÓLEO DA POLPA DA MACAÚBA (Acrocomia aculeata) VISANDO ACOPLAMENTO EM USINAS DE PRODUÇÃO DE BIODIESEL

A disponibilidade de matéria-prima de baixo custo é o fator chave para a viabilidade econômica na produção de biodiesel. Conjuntamente com a matéria-prima, outros fatores que elevam os custos no processo de transformação do óleo vegetal ou gordura animal em biodiesel por transesterificação alcalina estão associados às etapas de purificação da matéria-prima e dos produtos. A macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) é uma oleaginosa em foco no Estado de Minas Gerais, cuja atual forma extrativista de obtenção a classifica como matéria-prima de acidez elevada, portanto não apta para a produção de biodiesel por processos convencionais. Propõe-se, neste trabalho, o projeto de uma planta industrial contendo uma etapa alternativa de separação dos ácidos graxos livres do óleo da polpa do fruto da macaúba, tecnicamente viável e ambientalmente correta, visando à adequação desse óleo para a produção de biodiesel por transesterificação etílica via catálise alcalina homogênea. O pré-tratamento é constituído por duas etapas principais: extração líquido-líquido para recuperação dos ácidos graxos livres e esterificação heterogênea para neutralização dos ácidos graxos residuais. Na simulação, 50 kg.h-1 de óleo de macaúba com acidez de 12,92% são tratados, alcançando-se 40,8 kg.h-1 de produto com 0,5% de acidez. Na validação em teste de bancada, seguindo-se as mesmas etapas da simulação, alcançou-se um produto com acidez de 0,67%.

Study the economic viability of biodiesel production of cooking oil in Manaus

Study the economic viability of biodiesel production of cooking oil in Manaus

Microalgae Lipid and Biodiesel Production: A Brazilian Challenge

Global increases in atmospheric CO2 and climate change are drawing considerable attention to identify sources of energy with lower environmental impact than those currently in use. Biodiesel production from microalgae lipids can, in the future, occupy a prominent place in energy generation because it represents a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Several species of microalgae produce large amounts of lipids per biomass unit. Triacylglycerol is the fatty acid used for biodiesel production and the main source of energy reserves in microalgae. The current literature indicates that nutrient limitations can lead to triacylglycerol accumulation in different species of microalgae. Further efforts in microalgae screening for biodiesel production are needed to discover a native microalgae that will be feasible for biodiesel production in terms of biomass productivity and oil. This revision focuses in the biotechnological potential and viability of biodiesel production from microalgae. Brazil is located in a tropical region with high light rates and adequate average temperatures for the growth of microalgae. The wide availability of bodies of water and land will allow the country to produce renewable energy from microalgae.

Obtaining and characterization of biodiesel from jupati (Raphia taedigera Mart.) oil

The search for alternative triglyceride sources for biodiesel production is a widely discussed issue in Brazil because of the initiation of the Brazilian biofuel program. The viability of biodiesel production from the oil of Raphia taedigeraMart., commonly known as jupati, is studied in this work. This paper presents the obtention and characterization of biodiesel from jupati using an ethylic route with a methane sulfonic acid reaction catalyst. The alcohol:oil molar ratio was 9:1, and the catalyst concentration was 2% of the oil mass. The yield of the process was 92% by mass, and the oil conversion into jupati ethylic biodiesel was 99.6%. The physical and chemical parameters of jupati ethylic biodiesel were within the limits set by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).