Techno-Economic Analysis of an Improved Process for Producing Saturated Branched-Chain Fatty Acids
- Helen Ngo
- Winnie Yee
- Andrew McAloon
- Michael Haas
Abstract
Methyl-branched fatty acids produced by isomerization of oleic acid (‘isostearic’ acids (IA)) are industrially useful products with excellent thermostabilities and lubricities and reduced freezing points relative to stearic acid. They have potential utility as biodiesel or a biodiesel additive imparting improved low temperature fluidity. We present a techno-economic model for industrial scale production of isostearic acid by zeolite-catalyzed isomerization. A catalyst regeneration loop allowing 20 reaction cycles was included. Use of catalyst for 15 or more reaction cycles reduced process cost by 51% vs. a single use reaction format. However, with a best-case predicted production cost of $2.375/kg ($1.080/lb), further process cost reductions will be required before use of IA esters as high percentage blend components of biodiesel is economically feasible.
- Full Text:
PDF
- DOI:10.5539/jas.v6n10p158
Journal Metrics
(The data was calculated based on Google Scholar Citations)
- Google-based Impact Factor (2018): 2.28
- h-index (December 2018): 31
- i10-index (December 2018): 304
- h5-index (December 2018): 22
- h5-median (December 2018): 27
Index
- ACNP
- AGRICOLA
- AGRIS
- BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine)
- CAB Abstracts
- CiteFactor
- CNKI Scholar
- CrossRef
- DESY Publication Database
- DTU Findit (DTU Library)
- EBSCOhost
- Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek (EZB)
- Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
- FindIt@Bham (UoB Library)
- Genamics JournalSeek
- Google Scholar
- HOLLIS (Harvard Library)
- Index Copernicus
- Infotrieve (Copyright Clearance Center)
- Jisc Library Hub Discover
- JournalTOCs
- Library of Congress
- LIVIVO (ZB MED)
- LOCKSS
- LSE Library
- Max Planck Institutes
- Mendeley
- MIAR
- Mir@bel
- Norwegian Centre for Research Data (NSD)
- OAJI
- Open J-Gate
- OskiCat (UCB Library)
- PKP Open Archives Harvester
- Publons
- Qualis/CAPES
- ROAD
- Scilit
- SHERPA/RoMEO
- Southwest-German Union Catalogue
- Standard Periodical Directory
- Stanford Libraries
- StarPlus (UoS Library)
- Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB)
- Trove
- UCR Library
- Ulrich's
- UniCat
- Universe Digital Library
- University Library (USask)
- WorldCat
- WorldWideScience
- WRLC Catalog
- Zeitschriften daten bank (ZDB)
Contact
- Anne BrownEditorial Assistant
- jas@ccsenet.org