Análisis técnico económico mediante simulación con Aspen Plus para la obtención de biodiesel a partir de la fracción lipídica de microalgas

Abstract

This work simulates and evaluates technically and economically the production of biodiesel from microalgae as third generation feedstock. For this purpose, the lipid composition extracted from the microalgae Chlorella established in the facultative and maturation ponds of the Ucubamba Wastewater Treatment Plant is investigated, and a weighted composition is set to simulate the process using the Aspen Plus® V.11 software. A diagram of two scenarios is applied, a standard process (process I) and an optimized process (process II); initially, secondary information is collected from different systems for obtaining methyl esters and a model is built that presents transesterification, distillation, separation, and purification operations, and finally a biodiesel flow of 1042 kg/h is reached, with a capital cost and production cost of 4'211,330 and 1'714,880 USD, respectively. On the other hand, by optimizing the process, it is possible to build a second model, which consists of unit operations that are partially different from the first one, such as a double reaction of transesterification, decantation, and separation. In this case, two more units per hour of production and lower capital and production costs (3'740,420 USD and 1'308,260 USD) are obtained. Consequently, the total technological costs are compared and contrasted in addition to those produced per kg of biodiesel, being 0.94 and 0.81 USD for process I and II, respectively. The second prospect is considered as the optimum compared to the standard process and values reported in the literature.