Simulation of the Production Process of Biodiesel From Jatropha Curcas Oil

Abstract

The paper presents the simulation of the process of producing biodiesel from jatropha curcas oil using the process simulator Hysys 3,2, with the aim of evaluating alternative production technically. To the process flow diagram, we selected a conversion reactor to neutralize the fatty acids present in the oil, a plug flow reactor for the transesterification reaction, a distillation column to recover some of the unreacted methanol, a conversion reactor to remove the sodium hydroxide used as a catalyst and a tower of liquid-liquid extraction to separate the glycerol from biodiesel and two separators for purifying the products. Influences were evaluated in the process of alcohol-oil molar ratio, percentage by mass of the catalyst and distillation tower, number of plates, feed plate and feed temperature. It was determined that the alcohol-oil ratio 6,5:1, 0,3 percent catalyst, distillation column with 10 plates and powered by six to one plate temperature of 101 ° C, guaranteeing a high conversion of the oil with alcohol and separating the less energy.