Diseño de una planta piloto para la obtención de biodiesel mediante catálisis heterogénea

Abstract

In the present project intends to design a pilot plant for the production of biodiesel B100, using a new methodology, using a basic heterogeneous catalyst, as the calcium oxide (CaO). Initially palm oil was characterized with some parameters, obtaining results within the rules. The project was developed with a factorial experimental design 32x2 variables were; the percentage of catalyst with three levels: 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%, the reaction time with three levels: 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 hours and the reaction temperature with two levels: 50ºC and 125ºC. The molar ratio of methanol/ oil was set at 6: 1 and for agitation speed was 600 rpm. After the reaction was left to decant 24 hours for separation of the three phases: glycerin, catalyst and biodiesel for purification of both biodiesel and glycerol was a distillation of the excess methanol and a pressure filtration. The biodiesel sample more performance from each condition were selected and evaluated by the NTE INEN 2482 standard, the sample that present the best results are used to perform the blends biodiesel /diesel B5, B10 and B20 characterized them as NTE INEN 1489 standard. The best operating conditions were: 125 ° C, 1.0% catalyst and 1.5 hours of reaction, obtaining a yield of 95.43%. According to economic indicators obtained IRR = 25% and NPV = 103 206.08 USD make the project profitable.