1

Plant Design Project I

GROUP 9 :
KONG KAH SHIN 17478
IZZUDDDIN BIN JAMALUDDIN 18672
FAULIYANA BINTI MOHD FAUDZI 19218
KANAPATHY MOHANAN 18672
SUPERVISOR: DR. DZULKARNAIN ZAINI
Outline 2

Problem Statements
Objectives
Market Analysis
Selection of Plant Location
Main Process Design
Selection of Separations
Problem Statements 3

Glycerol is a byproduct in biodiesel production.

Crude glycerol from biodiesel plant contains: glycerol, ash, water
and MONG (matter organic non-glycerol).
Conversion of crude glycerol to value-added products not widely
and commercially adopted in Malaysia.
An investment company, Tronoh Invest wanted to built 1.3-
Propanediol (1,3-PDO) plant using crude glycerol as feedstock.
Develop a conceptual process design for a potential 1,3-PDO plant
in Malaysia.
Problem Statements: 4

The given crude glycerol composition is as follows:

Component Percentage (wt)

Glycerol 53.2
Ash 2.8
Water 18.8
MONG 25.2
Objectives 5

To design a conceptual process design for a potential 1,3-PDO plant

in Malaysia using crude oil as feedstock.
To determine an appropriate plant capacity.
To suggest best plant location in Malaysia.
To design plant with top concerns for environmental issues.
To design plant that is simple and safe to operate which follows the
HSE guidelines.
 6

Market Analysis
 Glycerol Market 7

Over a decade, biodiesel has become

widely used as an alternative fuel .

Furthermore, Southeast Asia is also the main

producer of biodiesel other than the western
countries, where palm oil is the main
element in biodiesel production due to the
higher number of crop yield and lower
production cost (Mukherjee & Sovacool,
2014).
 8

The increasing of biodiesel production

resulting in the increasing of abundance
glycerol, which one part of glycerol is
formed for every 10 parts of biodiesel is
produced and environmental pollution will
occur if the waster is not treated properly
(Drozdzynska, Leja & Czaczyk, 2011).
 9

(Quispe, Coronado & Carvalho, 2013)

 From the graph above, the production of 10
glycerol is increasing since 2001 however,
the price of both crude and refined
glycerol is increasing.

The market price of the 80% crude

glycerol is about US $1-10 / kilogram
(Alibaba.com, 2016).

The market price for the 50-60% crude

glycerol is in the range of US $5-6/Gallon
(Alibaba.com, 2016).
 1,3-Propanediol Market
1,3-Propanediol (PD) is used in the production 11
of the polymers and composite materials
such as paints, fragrances, coatings and etc.
(DuPont Tate & Lyle, 2012).
Major product of PD is the polytrimethylene
terephthalate (PTT), a type of polyester used
in the textile industry and it has been widely
used over the years (Molel, Phillips & Smith,
2015).
Asia pacific is estimated to be the largest
producer of PD materials by 2019 due to the
increase of the PTT. (Transparency Market
Research, 2015).
 In 2014, about 146 kilo tons global market
demand of 1,3-Propanediol and it is 12
expected by 2022 to reach about 225.9
kilo tons with growing Compound Annual
Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2015
until 2022 (Abnewswire, 2016).

(Grand View Research, 2015)

 13
Top companies of the PD market are
Dupont Tate & Lyle Bio Products
Company (U.S), Metabolic Explorer SA
(France), Zhangjiagang Glory Biomaterial
Co. Ltd. (China) and Zouping Mingxing
Chemical Co. Ltd. (China).
(Marketsandmarkets.com, 2015)

The latest market price for the 99.5% PD is

in the range of US $1500 1600 / Metric
Ton (Alibaba.com, 2016).
 14

Plant Location Study

 Geographic location of plant plays a major role in
the success of the business running. The main factor 15
in choosing the plant site is to locate plant where
the production cost is at minimum with safety
environment to be considered (Peters, 1980).
Below are the factors needed to be consider:
Raw Materials Availability
Market
Energy Availability
Water Supply
Transportation Facilities
Labour Supply
 Three locations have been chosen for this 16
project:
Nusajaya Industrial Park, Johor
Gebeng, Pahang
Port Klang, Selangor
Port Klang Nusajaya Gebeng
Land Price RM42.00 psf RM100.00 psf RM18.00 psf

Area 20 acres 6 acres 250 acres (max)

Availability

(Malaysia Real Estate, 2016)

 17

Nusajaya Gebeng

Port Klang
Raw Materials Availability
18
State Company
Nusajaya, Johor IOI Oleochemical Industries Sdn Bhd
Am Biofuels Sdn. Bhd.
(mostly located in Aj Oleo Industries Sdn. Bhd.
Pasir Gudang, Ypj Palm International Sdn. Bhd.
estimated radius of Nexsol (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
44.1km) Vance Bioenergy Sdn. Bhd.

Port Klang, Selangor Emery Oleochemicals (M) Sdn Bhd.

(mostly located in Kl-Kepong Oleomas Sdn.Bhd.
Shah Alam and Port Innovans Bio Fuel Sdn. Bhd.
Klang, estimated Sime Darby Biodiesel Sdn. Bhd.
radius of <30km) Fima Biodiesel Sdn. Bhd.

Gebeng, Pahang FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd.

Plant Biofuels Corporation Sdn. Bhd.
(mostly located in Mission Biofuels Sdn. Bhd.
Kuantan, estimated Mission Biotechnologies Sdn. Bhd.
radius of 39.5km)
Market
19

It is an advantage to locate plant nearby

major buyers. This is to reduce the shipping
cost and delivery time to the buyers.

All of the three locations located only a

distant from the port, where this ensure in
the efficiency of transportation of the
goods.
Energy Availability
20
 21

The figure above shows the electricity grid

system of Peninsular Malaysia, which sufficient
power is supplied throughout the major town.

The number of power stations are greater in the

west coast compared to east cost.

The electricity will be supplied by Tenaga

Nasional Berhad (TNB) for all of the three
locations.

The tariff for the industrial area is about

RM20.30/kWh and is all the same in the
peninsular area.
Water Supply
22

Water supply is needed for water utility in the plant and

the table below shows the production capacities of
water supply in Malaysia. Johor, Labuan, Pulau Pinang,
Perak, Sarawak and Terengganu shows high number of
reserve margins and production capacities, which lead
them to a strategic plant location.
 Below are the main water supplier for each state:
23
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor SDN. BHD.
(Selangor)
Syarikat Air Johor SDN. BHD. (Johor)
Semambu Water Treatment Plant (Pahang)

Port Klang Nusajaya Gebeng

Band 1 RM2.07/m3 RM2.80/m3 RM0.92/m3
(0-35 metre cube) (0-35 metre cube) (0-227 metre cube)
Band 2 RM2.28/m3 RM3.30/m3 RM0.84/m3
(>35 metre cube) (>35 metre cube) (>227 metre cube)
National Water Services Commission (2015)
Transportation Facilities 24

Land, water and air are the common

transportation medium used in the industrial
companies. The type of transportation used
is depend on the type and amount of raw
materials and products.
 Port Klang Selangor Nusajaya, Johor Gebeng, Pahang

Port facility Port Klang (5km) Port Tanjung Pelepas (18.1km) 25

- Kuantan Port (5.9km)
- Kemaman Port (35km)

Airport Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)- 68.8km Senai International Airport Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport-
(52 mins away) -35.5km (30 mins away) 37.3km (33 mins away)
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport- 32.5km (33mins Changi International Airport, Singapore
away) -61.0km (1h 1min)
Highway Pulau Indah Highway JB East Coast Highway - Gebeng bypass
(Distance
from Federal Highway Distance from Pasir Gudang to Nusajaya : 44.1 km - East Coast Highway
railway NKVE Highway Distance from Kuantan to
station to
Elite Highway Gebeng: 39.5km
the
location) Distance from Shah Alam to Port Klang: 31.2km
Port Klang Station Pasir Gudang Port Station - Kertih Kuantan Port Railway
Railway
(Distance (Raw materials available just a stone throw from Port Tanjung Pelepas Station Line by PETRONAS (77km)
of raw
location) (53km) (Raw materials available just a
materials
availability Nearest railway station from location is the Port Klang (Most raw materials available in Pasir Gudang) stone throw from location)
to the Station -Near railway station from location is Port Tanjung Nearest railway station from
location)
Pelepas Station location is Kuantan Port Railway
26
Labour Supply
27
This factor is crucial in running manpower in
the plant.

Skilled and experience local workers are

needed this is to reduce the cost of importing
foreign workers.

Urban areas such as Kuala Lumpur and Johor

Bahru need to take into consider in paying
worker with high wages due to high living cost
compared to rural areas.
 28

Below are the number of populations in the

three states of location:
Selangor population (5,874,100)
Johor population (3,553,600)
Pahang population (1,623,200)
 SUMMARY 29
Selection
Port Klang, Selangor Nusajaya, Johor Gebeng, Pahang
criteria
Land Price RM42.00 psf RM100.00 psf RM18.00 psf
Emery Oleochemicals (M) Sdn IOI Oleochemical Industries Sdn FPG Oleochemicals Sdn.
Bhd. Bhd Bhd.
Kl-Kepong Oleomas Sdn.Bhd. Am Biofuels Sdn. Bhd. Plant Biofuels Corporation
Innovans Bio Fuel Sdn. Bhd. Aj Oleo Industries Sdn. Bhd. Sdn. Bhd.
Raw Materials Sime Darby Biodiesel Sdn. Bhd. Ypj Palm International Sdn. Bhd. Mission Biofuels Sdn. Bhd.
Availability Fima Biodiesel Sdn. Bhd. Nexsol (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Mission Biotechnologies Sdn.
Vance Bioenergy Sdn. Bhd. Bhd.
(mostly located in Shah Alam and
Port Klang, estimated radius of (mostly located in Pasir Gudang, (mostly located in Kuantan,
<30km) estimated radius of 44.1km) estimated radius of 39.5km)
Band 1 RM2.07/m3 RM2.80/m3 RM0.92/m3
(0-35 metre cube) (0-35 metre cube) (0-227 metre cube)
Water supply
Band 2 RM2.28/m3 RM3.30/m3 RM0.84/m3
(>35 metre cube) (>35 metre cube) (>227 metre cube)
Labour (Population
5,874,100 3,553,600 1,623,200
of State)
Selection criteria Port Klang, Selangor Nusajaya, Johor Gebeng, Pahang 30
Port Klang (5km) Port Tanjung Pelepas (18.1km) - Kuantan Port (5.9km)
Port Facility
- Kemaman Port (35km)
International Airport- International Airport- Domestic Airport-
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Senai International Airport Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport
Airport
Domestic Airport- Changi International Airport, Singapore
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Distance from the 68.8km (International)
35.5km 37.3km
airport 32.5km (Domestic)

Port Klang Station Pasir Gudang Port Station - Kertih Kuantan Port Railway Line by

Railway (Does not require to use railway as raw Port Tanjung Pelepas Station PETRONAS (77km)
(Distance from materials just a stone throw from the location) (53km) (Does not require to use train service to
raw materials
availability to the (Most raw materials available in Pasir Gudang) obtain raw materials- located stone throw
location) -Near railway station from location is Port Tanjung away from location)
Pelepas Station

Pulau Indah Highway JB East Coast Highway - Gebeng bypass

Highway
(Distance of raw Federal Highway Distance from Pasir Gudang to Nusajaya : 44.1 km - East Coast Highway
materials NKVE Highway Distance from Kuantan to Gebeng:
availability to the
Elite Highway 39.5km
location)
Distance from Shah Alam to Port Klang: 31.2km
Importance 1 2 3 4 5
Scale 31
Description Not Important Maybe Important Considerable Important Very Important

Selection criteria Importance 4-5 3 1-2

Price of land
Land Price 4 Price of land <RM25psf Price of land >RM50psf
Range from RM25-RM50psf

Raw Materials Ability to obtain raw materials within the Ability to obtain raw materials within Ability to obtain raw materials within
5
availability distance of <30km the range distance of 30-50km the distance of >50km

Water supply 5 <RM1.00/m3 RM1.00-2.50/m3 >RM2.50/m3

Port Facility 3 <10km 10-20km >20km

Airport 3 Availability of international airport Availability of domestic airport Unavailability of airport

Railway
(Distance from raw
3 <30km 30-50km >50km
materials availability
to the location)
Highway
(Distance of raw
4 <30km 30-50km >50km
materials availability
to the location)

Labour Supply 5 >5 000 000 3 000 000 5 000 000 <3 000 000
MATRIX ANALYSIS 32

Selection criteria Importance Nusajaya, Johor Port Klang, Selangor Gebeng, Pahang

Land Price 4 1x4=4 3 x 4 = 12 5 x 4 = 20

Raw Materials
5 3 x 5 = 15 4 x 5 = 20 3 x 5 = 15
availability
Water supply 5 3 x 5 = 15 2 x 5 = 10 5 x 5 = 25
Port Facility 3 3x3=9 5 x 3 = 15 5 x 3 = 15
Airport 3 5 x 3 = 15 4 x 3 = 12 3x3=9
Railway 3 1x3=3 5 x 3 = 15 5 x 3 = 15
Highway 4 3 x 4 = 12 3 x 4 = 12 3 x 4 = 12

Labour Supply 5 3 x 5 = 15 4 x 5 = 20 2 x 5 = 10

Total 88 116 121

Ranking 3 2 1
 33

Main Process
Design
Main Process Design 34

Two alternatives:

1. Bioprocess: Fermentation using bacteria to convert

glycerol to 1,3-PDO.

2. Chemical process: Dehydroxylation (Hydrogenalysis) of

glycerol to 1,3-PDO.
First alternative: Bioprocess 35

(Fermentation)
Bioprocess is any process that uses complete living cells or
their components (e.g. bacteria, enzymes, chloroplasts) to
obtain desired products.
Fermentation is one of the bioprocess that referred as a
process of growing culture of microbes in nutrient medium at
maintained physicochemical conditions and thereby
converting feed into desired product.
Fermentation is carried out within a bio-reactor
(fermentation vessel)
Fermentation of Glycerol into 1,3- 36

PDO
Biological conversion of glycerol to 1,3-PDO can be attained by
anaerobic bacteria fermentation process or micro-aerobic
fermentation.
The processes goes as below:
Step 1: Glycerol is catalyzed by dehydratase into 3- hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-
HPD) and water (Eqn 1.)
Step 2: 3-HPA is redueced to 1,3-PDO by a NAD+- linked oxidoreductase (Eqn 2.)

(Eqn 1.)
(Eqn 2.)
(Pagliaro & Rossi, 2010)
Fermentation of Glycerol into 1,3- 37

PDO
The overall reaction consumes a reducing equivalent in the form of a cofactor,
reduced beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), which is oxidized to
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) (Eqn 3.)(Pagliaro & Rossi, 2010)

(Eqn 3.)

Figure shows the pathway of conversion from glycerol to 1,3-PDO

(Raynaud, Sarabal, Meynial-Salles, Croux, & Soucaille, 2003)
Fermentation of Glycerol into 1,3- 38

PDO
Type of bacteria strains:
Escherichia Species - E coli
Reaction Conditions:
Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Temperature: 37
- Pressure: Atmospheric pressure (1 Klebsiella oxytoca
atm) Clostridium butyricum
- PH value: 6.5-7.5
Clostridium pasteurianum
- Suitable reactor: Batch/Fed batch
Enterobacter agglomerans
(Lee et al., 2015)
Citrobacter freundii
Lactobacillus diolivorans
A review on types of bacteria used in 39
fermentation of glycerol to 1,3-PDO

Figure show a review on the

different types of bacterial strain
used in fermentation of glycerol to
1,3-PDO (Lee et al., 2015)
Matrix analysis of Production of 1,3-Propanediol
40
from Glycerol through Bio-process
Factors Rating
1 2 3 4 5
Importance Not relevant Relevant Relatively important Very important
important
Yielding Vey low low Significant High Very high
Bacterial Not available Less available Available in Highly Abundant in
availability some places available in everywhere
certain places
Production Vey low low Significant High Very high
rate
Reaction Not Less Achievable Achievable Easily
conditions achievable achievable with high with little achievable
control control
Overall cost Very high High Medium Low Very low
Complexity Very complex Complex Little complex Simple Very simple
Matrix analysis of Production of 1,3-Propanediol
41
from Glycerol through Bio-process

Factors Importance of factor Rating

Bio-process

Yielding 5 4*5

Bacterial availability 4 3*4

Production rate 3 4*3

Reaction conditions 4 5*4
Overall cost 5 5*3

Complexity 4 3*4

Total 91
Matrix analysis of Both Processes Production of
42
1,3-Propanediol from Glycerol

Factors Importance of factor Rating

Bio-process

Yielding 5 4*5

Bacterial availability 4 3*4

Production rate 3 4*3

Reaction conditions 4 5*4
Overall cost 5 5*3

Complexity 4 3*4

Total 91
References: 43

Lee, C. S., Aroua, M. K., Daud, W. M. A. W., Cognet, P., Prs-

Lucchese, Y., Fabre, P. L., . . . Latapie, L. (2015). A review: Conversion
of bioglycerol into 1,3-propanediol via biological and chemical
method. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 42, 963-972.
doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.10.033
Pagliaro, M., & Rossi, M. (2010). The Future of Glycerol: Royal Society
of Chemistry.
Second alternative: Chemical Process:
44
Dehydroxylation of Glycerol (Glycerol
hydrogenalysis)
Glycerol hydrogenalysis: a catalytic chemical process
that breaks a chemical bond of carbon-carbon or
carbon-oxygen in glycerol followed by the simultaneous
addition of hydrogen atom to from a molecular
fragment.
The process selectively transforms the central hydroxyl
group of glycerol into a tosyloxyl group and then
removes the transformed group by catalytic
hydrogenalysis. (Lee et al., 2015)
Second alternative: Chemical Process:
45
Dehydroxylation of Glycerol (Glycerol
hydrogenalysis)
Consists of 3 steps:
Step 1: Acetalization

(Lee et al., 2015)

Second alternative: Chemical Process:
46
Dehydroxylation of Glycerol (Glycerol
hydrogenalysis)
Consists of 3 steps:
Step 2: Tosylation

(Lee et al., 2015)

 Second alternative: Chemical Process:
Dehydroxylation of Glycerol (Glycerol 47
hydrogenalysis)
Consists of 3 steps:
Step 3: Detosylation

(Lee et al., 2015)

Second alternative: Chemical Process:
Dehydroxylation of Glycerol (Glycerol 48
hydrogenalysis)

Condtions:
The hydrogenolysis reaction was carried out over
RaneyCNi catalyst under H2 pressure 3 MPa and 433 K for
24 h. (Lee et al., 2015)
Influence of solvents on hydrogenolysis of 49
glycerol over the Pt/WO3/ZrO2 catalyst
Selectivity 1,3-PD Reaction conditions:
Solvent Conversion 1)10% glycerol solution
1,3-PD 1,2-PD 1-PO Others Yield(%)
40 ml
DMI 32.5 15.2 18.2 42.0 22.7 4.9 2)initial H2 pressure 5.5
Mpa
Sulfolane 33.8 5.3 14.6 19.9 57.2 1.8 3)reaction
Ethanol 38.2 23.0 13.6 46.6 12.7 8.8 temperature 170 C
4)reaction time 12 h
Water 24.7 25.7 15 21.3 35.0 6.3 5) catalyst 1 ml
DMI-
31.6 34.9 8.7 20.5 4.0 11.0
water
DMI-
45.6 29.3 18.9 33.1 16.7 13.3
Ethanol
DMI1,3-dimethyl-
Ethanol-
45.7 21.2 8.0 32.1 35.7 9.7 2-imidazolidinone
water

Leifeng et al.. (2009). Solvent Effect on Selective Dehydroxylation of Glycerol to 1,3-Propanediol

over a Pt/WO3/ZrO2 Catalyst . CHINESE JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS , 30(12), 1189-1191.
Matrix analysis of Both Processes Production of
50
1,3-Propanediol from Glycerol

Rating
Factors Importance of factor
Bio-process Chemical Process

Yielding 5 4*5 5*5

Bacterial availability/
Catalyst availability
4 3*4 4*4

Production rate 3 4*3 4*3

Reaction conditions 4 5*4 5*4

Overall cost 5 5*3 3*4

Complexity 4 3*4 4*4

Total 91 101
References 51

Keyi wang, Martin, C & Scott, J.D.E.A.T.H.O.S. (2003). Conversion of

Glycerol to 1,3-Propanediol via Selective Dehydroxylation. Ind Eng
Chem Res, 42(1), 2913-2923.
Shanthi priya et al.. (2015). High Efficiency Conversion of Glycerol to
1,3-Propanediol Using a Novel PlatinumTungsten Catalyst
Supported on SBA-15. Ind Eng Chem Res, 54(37), 9104-9115.
Comparison between 2 processes:
Bioprocess
High yield(depends on type of
bacteria used)
Expensive equipment and
complicated procedures.
52
Chemical process
High (up to 72%)
High raw material cost, which
mainly results from consumption
of tosyl chloride, a chemical
currently produced only on a
small scale because of the low
demand.
 53

Selection Of
Separation
SEPARATION SYSTEM SYNTHESIS
Purification of Crude Glycerol using 54
Acidification

Crude glycerol was purified by acidification using phosphoric acid

as it was found to be the best purifying agent among the others.
Acidification of a biodiesel plant waste crude glycerol (containing
approximately 13 wt% glycerol and 6 wt% ash) for a total processing
time of 1 h, produced a purified product containing approximately
96 wt% glycerol, and 0.7 wt% ash.
High value applications of the phosphates with easy scalability of
the process make it very promising for commercialization.

Nanda MR, Yuan Z, Qin W, Poirier MA and Chunbao X. Purification of Crude Glycerol using
Acidification: Effects of Acid Types and Product Characterization. Austin Chem Eng. 2014;1(1):
1004.
 gentle stirring was
55
acidified with formation
crude glycerol was phosphoric acid to a
melted at 55OC of three separate
desired pH layers
level

The fatty
The bottom phase was
acid-rich top phase glycerol neutralized
separated by simple
was separated using a using KOH solution
decantation.
separator funnel

evaporation of water further purified by activated charcoal to

at 110OC for 2h and solvent extraction de-color and remove
filtration to remove the process using odor and some metal
precipitated salt. methanol as solvent ions
Purification of Glycerin By-product from 56
Biodiesel Production Using Electrolysis
Process
A cost-effective alternative to purify crude glycerin by using
electrolysis, as well as obtaining the technical and economical
feasibility.
5 pretreatment steps together with the electrolysis process, the
glycerin content has increased without using the expensive vacuum
distillation.
Electrolysis process can be remove some of free fatty acid, MONG
and aluminum.
Requires that glycerin is a good move, low viscosity and low
voltage.
Product: 96.4% Glycerol
T Surrod, C Pattamaprom: Purification of Glycerin By-product from Biodiesel Production Using Electrolysis Process : The
Second TSME International Conference on Mechanical Engineering 19-21 October, 2011, Krabi
Anode:
Al Al + 3e
(s) 3+(aq) -
57
(lose electrons)
Al + 3H O Al(OH) +
3+(aq) 2 3

3H +

nAl(OH)3 Al (OH) n 3n

Cathode:
2H O + 2e H + 2OH
2 - 2(g) -

Al + 3e Al
3+ - (s)

(gain electrons)
Rapid Purification of Glycerol by-product from Biodiesel Production
through Combined Process of Microwave Assisted Acidification and 58
Adsorption via Chitosan Immobilized with Yeast

The stages starts with using microwave assisted acidification process

and the next process utilizing a bioadsorbent synthesized from dead
yeast cells immobilized on chitosan.
Bioadsorbents were characteristic of broad sources, low-cost and
rapid adsorption. This type of adsorbent is stable and could possibly
be used for adsorption of other toxic metals in waste water systems.
Final yield of glycerol was about 93.1-94.2% (w/w).

N. Saifuddin, H. Refal and P. Kumaran: Rapid Purification of Glycerol by-product from Biodiesel Production through
Combined Process of Microwave Assisted Acidification and Adsorption via Chitosan Immobilized with Yeast :Res. J.
Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol., 7(3): 593-602, 2014
 59
Immobilization of dead
Ultrasonic pre-treatment yeast cells on chitosan
beads

Initial purification of
pretreated waste
Crude glycerol glycerol by reduction of
refinement steps free fatty acid and salt
levels via microwave
assisted acidification

Final purification of the

partially purified glycerol
using the bioadsorbent
chitosan immobilized
with yeast cells
A Universal Procedure for Crude Glycerol 60
Purification from Different Feedstocks in
Biodiesel Production

A universal procedure for crude glycerol purification, including as

key steps initial microfiltration of the crude glycerol, saponification,
acidification, phase separation, and biphasic extraction of upper-
and lower-layer products.
Universal procedure is suitable to purify a variety of crude glycerol
samples.
Product: >93.0% glycerol
Y Xiao,G Xiao,and A Varma,: A Universal Procedure for Crude Glycerol Purification from Different
Feedstocks in Biodiesel Production: Experimental and Simulation Study: Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2013, 52,
1429114296
61
 Comparison 62
Type Acidification Electrolysis Microwave Assisted Universal
Acidification and Procedure
Adsorption
Main Component Phosphorus Aluminium Bioadsorbent Vacuum
-availability
-number of unit
Acid Chitosan and Yeast Evaporation and
Microfiltration
Complexity Not complex Not Complex Complex Complex
-number of stages
-pressure and temperature
requirement

Cost Low Cost Low Cost Low Cost High Cost

-number of equipment
-component

Feed Specific No specification Specific No Specification

-purification of feed

Product Glycerol 96 96.4 93.1-94 93.0

-weightage
 Matrix Analysis 63
Factors Main Complexity Cost Feed Product Total
Compone Glycerol (%)
nt
Importance 3 4 5 2 4

Acidification 4 x 3= 12 3 x 4 = 12 4 x 5 = 20 3x2=6 5 x 4 = 20 70
Electrolysis 4 x 3= 12 3 x 4 = 12 5 x 5 = 25 4x2=8 5 x 4 = 20 77
Microwave Assisted 3 x 3= 9 2x4=8 4 x 5 = 20 3x2=6 4 x 4 = 16 59
Acidification and
Adsorption

Universal Procedure 2 x 3= 6 2x4=8 2 x 5 = 10 5 x 2 = 10 4 x 4 = 16 50

Importance Scale 1 2 3 4 5
Description Not Importance Maybe Important Considerable Important Very Important

Factors Scale 1 2 3 4 5
Description Not Preferable Less Preferable Considerable Preferable Most Preferable