1,2—Propanediol Production from Glycerol Derived from Biodiesel’s Production: Technical and Economic Study
For every nine tons of produced biodiesel, there is another ton of glycerol as a byproduct. Therefore, glycerol prices dropped significantly worldwide in recent years; the more significant biodiesel production is, the more glycerol exists as a byproduct. glycerol prices also impact the biodiesel man...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/16/5081 |
| _version_ | 1797523974900416512 |
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| author | Juan B. Restrepo Carlos D. Paternina-Arboleda Antonio J. Bula |
| author_facet | Juan B. Restrepo Carlos D. Paternina-Arboleda Antonio J. Bula |
| author_sort | Juan B. Restrepo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For every nine tons of produced biodiesel, there is another ton of glycerol as a byproduct. Therefore, glycerol prices dropped significantly worldwide in recent years; the more significant biodiesel production is, the more glycerol exists as a byproduct. glycerol prices also impact the biodiesel manufacturing business, as it could be sold according to its refinement grade. The primary objective of this work was to evaluate the economic potential of the production of 1,2-propanediol derived from the biodiesel produced in Colombia. A plant to produce 1,2-propanediol via catalytic hydrogenation of glycerol in a trickle-bed reactor was designed. The plant comprised a reaction scheme where non-converted excess hydrogen was recycled, and the heat generated in the reactor was recovered. The reactor effluent was sent to a separation train where 98% <i>m/m</i> purity 1,2-propanediol was attained. Capital and operational costs were estimated from the process simulation. The net present value (NPV) and the modified internal return rate (MIRR) of the plant were used to assess the viability of the process. Their sensitivity to key input variables was evaluated to find the viability limits of the project. The economic potential of the 1,2-propanediol was calculated in USD 1.2/kg; for the base case, the NPV and the MIRR were USD 54.805 million and 22.56%, respectively, showing that, for moderate variations in products and raw material prices, the process is economically viable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:50:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f67803458ea4999b6e850d4de6ba75e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:50:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f67803458ea4999b6e850d4de6ba75e2023-11-22T07:31:42ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-08-011416508110.3390/en141650811,2—Propanediol Production from Glycerol Derived from Biodiesel’s Production: Technical and Economic StudyJuan B. Restrepo0Carlos D. Paternina-Arboleda1Antonio J. Bula2Programa de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Atlántico, Carrera 30 # 8-49, Puerto Colombia C.P. 081001, ColombiaDepartamento de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad del Norte, Km 5 Vía Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla C.P. 080001, ColombiaDepartamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad del Norte, Km 5 Vía Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla C.P. 080001, ColombiaFor every nine tons of produced biodiesel, there is another ton of glycerol as a byproduct. Therefore, glycerol prices dropped significantly worldwide in recent years; the more significant biodiesel production is, the more glycerol exists as a byproduct. glycerol prices also impact the biodiesel manufacturing business, as it could be sold according to its refinement grade. The primary objective of this work was to evaluate the economic potential of the production of 1,2-propanediol derived from the biodiesel produced in Colombia. A plant to produce 1,2-propanediol via catalytic hydrogenation of glycerol in a trickle-bed reactor was designed. The plant comprised a reaction scheme where non-converted excess hydrogen was recycled, and the heat generated in the reactor was recovered. The reactor effluent was sent to a separation train where 98% <i>m/m</i> purity 1,2-propanediol was attained. Capital and operational costs were estimated from the process simulation. The net present value (NPV) and the modified internal return rate (MIRR) of the plant were used to assess the viability of the process. Their sensitivity to key input variables was evaluated to find the viability limits of the project. The economic potential of the 1,2-propanediol was calculated in USD 1.2/kg; for the base case, the NPV and the MIRR were USD 54.805 million and 22.56%, respectively, showing that, for moderate variations in products and raw material prices, the process is economically viable.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/16/50811,2 propanediolbiodieselglycerol as a byproductColombia case-studytrickle-bed reactor |
| spellingShingle | Juan B. Restrepo Carlos D. Paternina-Arboleda Antonio J. Bula 1,2—Propanediol Production from Glycerol Derived from Biodiesel’s Production: Technical and Economic Study Energies 1,2 propanediol biodiesel glycerol as a byproduct Colombia case-study trickle-bed reactor |
| title | 1,2—Propanediol Production from Glycerol Derived from Biodiesel’s Production: Technical and Economic Study |
| title_full | 1,2—Propanediol Production from Glycerol Derived from Biodiesel’s Production: Technical and Economic Study |
| title_fullStr | 1,2—Propanediol Production from Glycerol Derived from Biodiesel’s Production: Technical and Economic Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | 1,2—Propanediol Production from Glycerol Derived from Biodiesel’s Production: Technical and Economic Study |
| title_short | 1,2—Propanediol Production from Glycerol Derived from Biodiesel’s Production: Technical and Economic Study |
| title_sort | 1 2 propanediol production from glycerol derived from biodiesel s production technical and economic study |
| topic | 1,2 propanediol biodiesel glycerol as a byproduct Colombia case-study trickle-bed reactor |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/16/5081 |
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