Title of project:
Technical-financial study for the implementation of a pilot plant for the manufacture of biodiesel
Responsible:
Luis Arteaga Weill, Msc.
E-mail: larteaga@upb.edu
Researchers:
Jorge Montaño, Ing.
Luis Arteaga, Msc.
Summary:
The diesel deficit in Bolivia can be mitigated using biodiesel. Its preparation was studied in the laboratory, trans esterifying national commercial soybean oil at 60 °C and atmospheric pressure, depending on the concentration of alcohol (CH3OH) and catalyst (NaOH). The total yield was 97.2%. The analyzed profile of methyl esters of the product corresponds to reported profiles of fatty acids in soybean oil. The kinetics can be described by a previously proposed homogeneous model. The quality of the fuel produced is close to that required by ASTM 6751-03 in free, combined glycerin and monoglyceride contents, using 6 mol alcohol / mol triglycerides and 0.7% pp of catalyst. With these results, a discontinuous pilot plant was designed for 10 barrels / day, which shows an IRR of 24.5% if the price of biodiesel equals an international value of 0.5USD/liter.
References about the project: rescalera@upb.edu