TY - JOUR AB - The present study aims to evaluate the operating costs of biodiesel production using palm oil in a pilot-scale plant with a capacity of 20,000 L/day (850 L/batch). The production plant uses crude palm oil as a feedstock, and methanol in a molar ratio of 1:10. The process incorporated acid esterification, basic transesterification, and dry washing with absorbent powder. Production costs considered in the analysis were feedstock, supplies, labor, electricity, quality and maintenance; amounting to $3.75/gal ($0.99/L) for 2013. Feedstocks required for biodiesel production were among the highest costs, namely 72.6% of total production cost. Process efficiency to convert fatty acids to biodiesel was over 99% and generated a profit of $1.08/gal (i.e., > 22% of the total income). According to sensitivity analyses, it is more economically viable for biodiesel production processes to use crude palm oil as a feedstock and take advantage of the byproducts such as glycerine and fertilizers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. AD - Univ Santander, Fac Engn, Dept Ind Engn, Eureka UDES Res Grp, Cucuta, Colombia AN - WOS:000353890800018 AU - Acevedo, J. C. AU - Hernandez, J. A. AU - Valdes, C. F. AU - Khanal, S. K. DA - Jul DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.01.071 J2 - Bioresource Technol KW - biodiesel LA - English N1 - Ch2yf PY - 2015 SN - 0960-8524 SP - 117-123 ST - Analysis of operating costs for producing biodiesel from palm oil at pilot-scale in Colombia T2 - Bioresource Technology TI - Analysis of operating costs for producing biodiesel from palm oil at pilot-scale in Colombia UR - ://WOS:000353890800018 VL - 188 ID - 10878 ER -