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Biodiesel Production from Jatropha Seeds: Project Progress and Lessons Learned

Explore the journey of converting waste vegetable oil to biodiesel, including project selection, challenges overcome, and valuable lessons learned. Discover the process of designing a pilot plant for efficient biodiesel production and the importance of responsible chemical engineering practices.

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Biodiesel Production from Jatropha Seeds: Project Progress and Lessons Learned

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  1. Oil From [the] Soil Team 9 May 9th, 2009

  2. Outline • Project Selection • Tasks Accomplished • Challenges Overcome • Lessons Learned • Acknowledgements • Questions

  3. Project Selection • Provided global industrial perspective • Utilized and built upon prior coursework • - SeparationProcesses • - Reactor Design • - Fluid Flow & Momentum Transfer Phenomena • Received suggestions fromProfessorSykes • Waste vegetable oil from food operations • Biological conversion of CO2 to ethanol by sunlight

  4. Our Design Process • Research • What is Jatropha Curcas? • How is biodiesel produced? • Why Jatropha?

  5. What is Jatropha Curcas? • Grown in South America, Africa, India • Ideal for poor soil and water conditions • Seed’s mass is 30%- 40% oil 1 meter

  6. How is Biodiesel Produced? • Common process for various sources • Soybeans • Recycled cooking oil • Base-catalyzed transesterification

  7. Why Jatropha? 1000 kg Jatrophaseeds = 92 gallons biodiesel

  8. Our Design Process • Research • Develop • Process design with bench-scale trials

  9. Bench-Scale Design Start Whole Jatropha Seeds Crushed Jatropha Seeds Hexane evaporated with heat Separated Glycerol& Biodiesel Hexane-Seed Slurry Acid-CatalyzedTransesterification Base-CatalyzedTransesterification Purified Biodiesel

  10. Our Design Process • Research • Develop • Design overall process with bench-scale trials • Pilot plant simulation of chosen process

  11. UniSim Design • Simulated a biodiesel production pilot plant • Produces 2 million gallons annually

  12. The Process Seed Oil Extraction Treatment & Conversion (Transesterification) Hexane & Methanol Recovery

  13. Step 1: Extraction To Step 2

  14. Step 2: Treatment & Conversion From Step 1 Treatment Conversion

  15. Step 3: Hexane and Methanol Recovery Hexane Recovery Methanol Recovery

  16. Our Design Process • Research • Develop • Overcome • Address emerging challenges • Evaluate existing components

  17. Challenges Overcome • Troubleshooting UniSim design • Unexpected & undesired experimental outcomes • Accounting for entire footprint • Equipment sizing & material science • Economic analysis • Responsible design

  18. Responsible Design • Chemical safety • Flammability • Working conditions • Safe handling • Waste management • Hexane & methanol recycling • Seed cake incineration • Sale of glycerol

  19. Lessons Learned & Future Work • Value of teamwork • Communication • Individual strengths/weaknesses • Project management • “You break it, you bought it” • Future work: Commercialize

  20. Thank You To… • Professor Sykes,Faculty Advisor • Professor Wentzheimer,UniSim • Dr. David Dornbos, Industrial Consultant • Rich Huisman, Equipment • Michigan State University, Equipment

  21. Thank You!

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