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Modeling, simulation and intensification of hydroprocessing of micro-algae oil to produce renewable aviation fuel

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Abstract

Micro-algae are photosynthetic organisms, which represent a promissory renewable raw material for biofuels production, since they can be cultivated in non-fertile lands, avoiding the competition with food crops for land use. From micro-algae, oil can be obtained oil that can be converted to biodiesel, green diesel and biojet fuel. In particular, the renewable aviation fuel is one of the less explored biofuels; nevertheless, for the aviation sector, this is the best alternative to reduce CO2 emissions, allowing its sustainable development. In order to produce hydrocarbons in the boiling point range of jet fuel, we need to transform the micro-algae oil. A number of research projects report the use of micro-algae oil for the production of biojet fuel through the hydrotreating process. However, the application of process intensification strategies for the hydroprocessing of micro-algae oil has not been reported. Therefore, in this work we propose the modeling, simulation and intensification of the hydrotreating process to produce biojet fuel, considering micro-algae oil as raw material. The hydroprocessing of micro-algae oil is modeled in Aspen Plus processes simulator, based on data from an experimental study recently reported. The produced renewable hydrocarbons are purified through conventional and intensified distillation sequences; thereby, conventional and intensified hydrotreating processes are defined and evaluated in terms of total annual costs, CO2 emissions and biojet fuel price. Simulation results show that the implementation of intensification strategies leads to the production of biojet fuel with reduced carbon dioxide emissions, 34% less, and a competitive price per liter, 78% cheaper than fossil jet fuel price.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n Col. Las Campanas, Querétaro, Querétaro, 76010, Mexico

    Claudia Gutiérrez-Antonio & Alejandra Gómez-De la Cruz

  2. División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus Guanajuato, Noria Alta s/n, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, 38010, Mexico

    Araceli Guadalupe Romero-Izquierdo, Fernando Israel Gómez-Castro & Salvador Hernández

Authors
  1. Claudia Gutiérrez-Antonio
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  2. Alejandra Gómez-De la Cruz
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  3. Araceli Guadalupe Romero-Izquierdo
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  4. Fernando Israel Gómez-Castro
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  5. Salvador Hernández
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claudia Gutiérrez-Antonio.

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Gutiérrez-Antonio, C., Gómez-De la Cruz, A., Romero-Izquierdo, A.G. et al. Modeling, simulation and intensification of hydroprocessing of micro-algae oil to produce renewable aviation fuel. Clean Techn Environ Policy 20, 1589–1598 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-018-1561-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-018-1561-z

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