Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization and stochastic modeling of uncertainties in the biodiesel production

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There are inherent uncertainties in the biodiesel production process arising out of feedstock composition, operating and design parameters and can have significant impact on the product quality and process economics. In this paper, the uncertainties are quantified in the form of probabilistic distribution function. Stochastic modeling capability is implemented in the ASPEN process simulator to take into consideration these uncertainties and the output is evaluated to determine impact on process efficiency and quality of biodiesel.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen CAW, Watts KC, Ackman RG, Pegg MJ (1999) Predicting the viscosity of biodiesel fuels from their fatty acid ester composition. Fuel 78:1319–1326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ataya F, Dube MA, Ternan M (2008a) Transesterification of canola oil to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in a continuous flow liquid–liquid packed bed reactor. Energy Fuels 22(5):3551–3556

    Google Scholar 

  • Ataya F, Dube MA, Ternan M (2008b) Variables affecting the induction period during acid-catalyzed transesterification of canola oil to FAME. Energy Fuels 22(1):679–685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang AF, Liu YA (2010) Integrated process modeling and product design of biodiesel manufacturing. Ind Eng Chem Res 49:1197–1213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demirbas A (2006) Biodiesel production via non-catalytic SCF method and biodiesel fuel characteristics. Energy Convers Manag 47(15):2271–2282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diwekar UM, Kalagnanam JR (1997) Robust design under uncertainty. AIChE J 43:440–449

    Google Scholar 

  • Diweker UM, Rubin ES (1991) Stochastic modeling of chemical processes. Comput Chem Eng 15(2):105–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Dufek EJ, Butterfield RO, Frankel EN (1972) Esterification and transesterification of 9(10)-carboxystearic acid and its methyl esters: kinetic studies. J Am Oil Chem Soc 49:302–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Dufek EJ, Butterfield RO, Frankel EN (1978) Conversion of methyl 9(10)-formylstearate to carboxymethylstearate. J Am Oil Chem Soc 55(3):337–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn ROJ (2002) Effect of oxidation under accelerated conditions on fuel properties of methyl soyate (biodiesel). Am Oil Chem Soc 79:915–920

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman B, Pryde EH, Mounts T (1984) Variables affecting the yields of fatty esters from transesterified vegetable oil. J Am Oil Chem Soc 61:1638–1642

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerpen JV, Shanks B, Pruszko R, Clements D, Knothe G (2004) Biodiesel production technology. National Renewable Energy Labs, Golden, CO, NREL/SR-510-36244

  • Gerpen JV, Shanks B, Pruszko R, Clements D, Knothe G (2009) Biodiesel handling and use guide. National Renewable Energy Labs, Golden, CO, NREL/TP-540-43672

  • Hill J, Nelson E, Tilman D, Polasky (2006) Environmental, economic, and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels. Proc Natl Acad Sci 103(30):11206–11210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huo H, Wang M, Bloyd C, Putsche V (2008) Life-cycle assessment of energy and greenhouse gas effects of soybean-derived biodiesel and renewable fuels. Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, ANL/ESD/08-2

  • Kinast JA (2003) Production of biodiesel from multiple feedstocks and properties of biodiesel and biodiesel/blends. National Renewable Energy Labs, Golden, CO, NREL/SR-510-31460

  • Knothe G (2005) Dependence of Biodiesel Fuel Properties on the Structure of Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters. Fuel Proc. Tech. 86:1059–1070

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leevijit L, Prateepchaikul G, Tongurai C, Wisutmethangoon (2008) Performance test of a 6-stage continuous reactor for palm methyl ester production. Bioresour Technol 99(1):214–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linstromberg WW (1970) Organic chemistry. D.C. Heath and Co., Lexington, pp 129–133

    Google Scholar 

  • M311K (2008) Fats and oil: production, consumption, and stocks. Current industrial report, United States Census Bureau, Washington D.C

  • Myint LL, El-Halwagi MM (2008) Process analysis and optimization of biodiesel production from soybean oil. J Clean Technol Environ Policies 11(3):263–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nocker LD, Spirinckx C, Torfs R (1998) Comparison of LCA and external-cost analysis for biodiesel and diesel. In: 2nd international conference LCA in agriculture agro-industry and forestry

  • Noureddini H, Zhu D (1997) Kinetics of transesterification of soyabean oil. JAOCS 74:1457–1463

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olivera M, Queimada AJ, Coutinho J (2010) Modeling of biodiesel multicomponent systems with the cubic-plus-association (CPA) equation of state. Ind Eng Chem Res 49(3):1419–1427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papoulis A, Pillai SU (2001) Probability random variables and stochastic processes. McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math, Blacklick

  • Sheehan J, Camobreco V, Duffield J, Graboski M, Shapouri H (1998) An overview of biodiesel and petroleum diesel life cycles. National Renewable Energy Labs, Golden, CO, NREL/TP-580-24772

  • Subramanayan K, Diwekar UM (2007) User manual for CAPE-OPEN compliant stochastic simulation capability. VRI CUSTOM

  • Yuan W, Hansen AC, Zhang Q (2005a) Vapor pressure and normal boiling point predictions for pure methyl esters and biodiesel fuels. Fuel 84(7):943–950

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan W, Hansen AC, Zhang Q (2005b) Vapor pressure and normal boiling point prediction for pure methyl esters and biodiesel fuels. Fuel 84:943–950

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Vishwamitra Research Institute for their generous support in funding this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 525 S. Morgan Street, Chicago, IL, 60680, USA

    Sheraz Abbasi & Urmila M. Diwekar

  2. Center for Uncertain Systems: Tools for Optimization & Management (CUSTOM), Vishwamitra Research Institute, Clarendon Hills, IL, 60514, USA

    Urmila M. Diwekar

Authors
  1. Sheraz Abbasi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Urmila M. Diwekar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Urmila M. Diwekar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abbasi, S., Diwekar, U.M. Characterization and stochastic modeling of uncertainties in the biodiesel production. Clean Techn Environ Policy 16, 79–94 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-013-0596-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-013-0596-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation