Process integration possibilities for biodiesel production from palm oil using ethanol obtained from lignocellulosic residues of oil palm industry

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 100; no. 3; pp. 1227 - 1237
• Main Authors: Gutiérrez, Luis F., Sánchez, Óscar J., Cardona, Carlos A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2009; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biodiesel; Bioelectric Energy Sources; Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; biomass; Biotechnology; Energy; ethanol; Ethanol - chemistry; Feasibility Studies; Fuel ethanol; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gasoline; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Lignin - chemistry; lignocellulose; Lignocellulosic residues; Oil palm; Palm Oil; palm oils; Plant Oils - chemistry; Process integration; renewable energy sources; Systems Integration; Lignocellulosic residues; Fuel ethanol; Biodiesel; Oil palm; Process integration; Monocotyledones; Ethanol; Biofuel; Lignocellulosics; Industry; Palm oil; Residue; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Palmae; Elaeis guineensis; Oil plant (vegetal)
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.09.001

In this paper, integration possibilities for production of biodiesel and bioethanol using a single source of biomass as a feedstock (oil palm) were explored through process simulation. The oil extracted from Fresh Fruit Bunches was considered as the feedstock for biodiesel production. An extractive reaction process is proposed for transesterification reaction using
in situ produced ethanol, which is obtained from two types of lignocellulosic residues of palm industry (Empty Fruit Bunches and Palm Press Fiber). Several ways of integration were analyzed. The integration of material flows between ethanol and biodiesel production lines allowed a reduction in unit energy costs down to 3.4%, whereas the material and energy integration leaded to 39.8% decrease of those costs. The proposed integrated configuration is an important option when the technology for ethanol production from biomass reaches such a degree of maturity that its production costs be comparable with those of grain or cane ethanol.