Producción de biodiesel a partir de aceite crudo de palma: 1. Diseño y simulación de dos procesos continuos

Two continuous transesterification processes for biodiesel production from crude palm oil were designed and simulated, using the HYSYSTM process simulator. The first one includes a pretreatment of the free fatty acids via neutralization and the second one via an esterification with acidic conditions. To establish a comparative analysis between both processes, a technological assessment was carried out. It was concluded that the raw materials consumption is greater for the process with free fatty acids neutralization. It was found, also, that the second process, with previous esterification, generates more biodiesel for an equal amount of crude oil of inlet.