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Outline• Project Selection• Tasks Accomplished• Challenges Overcome
• Lessons Learned• Acknowledgements• Questions
Project Selection• Provided global industrial perspective• Utilized and built upon prior coursework
- Separation Processes
- Reactor Design
- Fluid Flow & Momentum Transfer Phenomena
• Received suggestions from Professor Sykes• Waste vegetable oil from food operations• Biological conversion of CO2 to ethanol by sunlight
Our Design Process1. Research
a. What is Jatropha Curcas?b. How is biodiesel produced?c. Why Jatropha?
• Grown in South America, Africa, India
• Ideal for poor soil and water conditions
• Seed’s mass is 30%- 40% oil
What is Jatropha Curcas?
1 meter
How is Biodiesel Produced?• Common process for various sources
– Soybeans– Recycled cooking oil
• Base-catalyzed transesterification
Why Jatropha?Property Conventional
DieselJatropha Biodiesel
Density (kg/m3) 850 880
Viscosity (mm2/s) 2.60 4.80
Flash point (˚C) 68 135
Water Content (%) 0.020 0.025
1000 kg Jatropha seeds = 92 gallons biodiesel
Bench-Scale DesignSta
rt
Whole Jatropha Seeds Crushed Jatropha SeedsHexane-Seed SlurryHexane evaporated with heat
Acid-CatalyzedTransesterification
Base-CatalyzedTransesterification
Separated Glycerol& BiodieselPurified
Biodiesel
Our Design Process1. Research2. Develop
a. Design overall process with bench-scale trialsb. Pilot plant simulation of chosen process
The Process
Seed Oil Extraction Treatment & Conversion(Transesterification)
Hexane & Methanol Recovery
Our Design Process1. Research2. Develop3. Overcome
a. Address emerging challengesb. Evaluate existing components
Challenges Overcome• Troubleshooting UniSim design
• Unexpected & undesired experimental outcomes
• Accounting for entire footprint– Equipment sizing & material science– Economic analysis– Responsible design
Responsible Design• Chemical safety
– Flammability– Working conditions– Safe handling
• Waste management– Hexane & methanol recycling– Seed cake incineration– Sale of glycerol
• Value of teamwork– Communication– Individual strengths/weaknesses
• Project management– “You break it, you bought it”
• Future work: Commercialize
Lessons Learned & Future Work
Thank You To…
• Professor Sykes, Faculty Advisor• Professor Wentzheimer, UniSim• Dr. David Dornbos, Industrial Consultant• Rich Huisman, Equipment• Michigan State University, Equipment