Biodiesel production process using solid acid catalyst: influence of market variables on the process's economic feasibility
Shemelis Nigatu Gebremariam, J.M. Marchetti
Abstract
Abstract There are a number of efficient alternative technologies for the production of fuel‐quality biodiesel from various feedstock types. The solid acid catalyzed transesterification process is one such approach. In this study, the whole process of biodiesel fuel production using solid acid catalysts has been simulated using commercially known software – SuperPro Designer – and the effects of some selected market variables on the economic feasibility of the whole process have been investigated. The market variables considered are oil cost, biodiesel price, alcohol cost, catalyst cost, labor cost, tax variation, maintenance cost, and glycerol selling price. Net present value and project payback time have been used as the parameters for evaluating the effect of changes in these market variables on the economic feasibility of the process. Possible market variations in oil cost and biodiesel price strongly affect the viability of the production process, whereas changes in labor cost and equipment maintenance cost could show less effect. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd