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Lookup NU author(s): Luma Al-Saadi, Dr Valentine Eze, Professor Adam Harvey
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2020.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
© 2020, © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.TEAs (Techno-economic Analyses) were performed for various conditions for one-step homogeneous base catalysis of refined and low-grade vegetable oils containing moderate to high free fatty acids (FFAs) and water. The conditions modelled were based upon a “Design of experiments” study of the reaction using a meso-OBR, a continuous process screening device to rapidly screen through conditions. For refined rapeseed oil, 99% conversion to FAME was achieved at 13:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio, 0.5 wt. % of catalyst, 50 °C and 16 min. For low-grade RSO (2.75 wt.% FFA) up to 90%, FAME was attained at 18:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio, 2 wt% catalyst, 50 °C and 4.25 min. The TEAs were based on plant capacities of 100,000 te/y, assuming a 20 yr plant lifetime. The outputs were compared to the conventional one-step biodiesel process and a two-step process for high FFA feedstock involving a pre-treatment step to reduce FFA content, followed by alkali-catalysed transesterification. The single-step process for low quality RSO at conditions identified here, which was significantly more economically viable than the conventional process using refined oil and the two-step process using waste cooking oil.
Author(s): Al-Saadi LS, Eze VC, Harvey AP
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Biofuels
Year: 2020
Volume: 13
Issue: 4
Pages: 401-413
Online publication date: 17/02/2020
Acceptance date: 30/01/2020
Date deposited: 21/04/2020
ISSN (print): 1759-7269
ISSN (electronic): 1759-7277
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2020.1727688
DOI: 10.1080/17597269.2020.1727688
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