Simulation of an Optimized Plant for Biodiesel Production in Peru from Jatropha Curcas Oil

This research developed a simulation of an optimized plant for the production of biodiesel from Jatropha curcas oil, with the aim of evaluating its technical feasibility in the Peruvian context. The entire alkaline transesterification process was simulated using DWSIM software and a kinetic model in Python, which included the main chemical reactions as well as secondary reactions, such as the formation of soaps as unwanted by-products. The simulation is complemented by a technical-economic analysis that considers the conditions of the Peruvian energy market and the scarcity of commercial-scale biodiesel production plants. The results suggest that optimizing the molar ratio and mitigating secondary reactions can increase the efficiency of the process, improving the purity of the biodiesel and reducing the formation of soaps. The kinetic model consists of 11 species and 9 reaction constants, which allowed us to predict the temporal evolution of triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, glycerol, methanol, and soaps. The results show maximum conversion (99%) at 60°C, with a molar ratio of 6:1 and 1% w/w NaOH, minimizing soap formation.