Use of waste vegetable oil for hydrotreated vegetable oil production with high-temperature electrolysis as hydrogen source

Abstract

The research of renewable alternatives to decarbonize the transport sector and to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels pushes towards the development of more sustainable solutions for fuel production. Among the diesel substitutes, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is considered one of the most promising options, since it can be blended with fossil diesel without limitations. In this context, this paper assesses the technical and economic feasibility of producing HVO using waste vegetable oil (WVO) as feedstock, with the help of a simulation model that maximizes the integration of renewable energy sources. The process to synthesize HVO requires a large amount of hydrogen that, in this study, is supplied through an upstream hightemperature electrolysis process occurring in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), which are fed by low-carbon electricity. The use of waste oils as feedstock eliminates the competition with food crops (e.g. soybean or rapeseed) and promotes the recycling of substances that need to be disposed. The results of the study prove the technical feasibility of a plant with an annual capacity of 100 kton of HVO, having an energy efficiency of 80%. Also, the breakeven point of such investment would be reached before the fourth year of operation, considering a WVO price of 400 €/ton, which is assumed as target price. However, the uncertainty on the market prices of WVO, HVO and electricity, as well as on other fixed and variable production costs, can, significantly affect the projected results.

Obtaining bioLPG via the HVO Route in Brazil: A Prospect Study Based on Life Cycle Assessment Approach

“…The fact that 'gray H 2 ' accumulates significant environmental impacts along its production chain, which are transferred to the products that use it, associated with a movement to unlink the petrochemical sector, intensified the search for solutions capable of obtaining hydrogen from less aggressive routes. Water electrolysis is one of the most promising options of this new generation of technologies [2], mainly when the energy demand of the process is supplied by a predominantly renewable grid such as the existing in Brazil [42]. This circumstance meant that the study also examined such an alternative for obtaining bioLPG.…”

“…Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), a fuel mixture mainly composed of propane and butane at varied proportions [1], also has the potential to join this group, becoming partially renewable if produced from feedstocks such as vegetable oils, biomass, and oleaginous residues. A technologically established way for this to occur is the hydrotreatment of vegetable oils (HVO) route, which consists of hydrogenating the triglycerides present in that raw vegetable material [2]. If conducted under controlled temperature and pressure conditions, the process generates both HVO biodiesel (also called 'green' diesel) as the main product and biopropane (bioLPG) as a co-product.…”

Green diesel accomplishment through usage of feedstock and catalyst promising enhanced application for future prospective

“…Green diesel produced by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) has better incorporation property with fossil fuel and large amount of waste is recycled by this process which makes it more viable. This process avoids the need of land filling or input of sewage system (Lorenzi et al 2020). Another possibility of green diesel use is related with the concern of global warming.…”

Eco‐friendly foams of castor oil based‐polyurethane with Artemisia residue fillers for discarded vegetable oil sorption

“…According to Statista Research Department, vegetable oils worldwide amounted to 203.91 million tons in 2019/2020. The main challenges for using these vegetable oil wastes are associated with their collection and treatment 5 . A study conducted by Liu et al showed the lack of economic incentives, disposal regulation policies, and the lack of collection awareness to reuse cooking oil waste 6…”

“…Among various vegetable cooking oil reuse alternatives, biodiesel production is highlighted, avoiding using virgin vegetable oils and allowing the circular economy concept 5 . According to Tsai, in cities like Taiwan, cooking vegetable oil recycling is mandatory and involves commercial and residential sectors 7 .…”