Abstract
The growing global energy demand and the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels have intensified efforts toward developing renewable alternatives. Among these, biodiesel and ethanol emerged as viable and sustainable fuel sources. In this context, the use of palm oil and ethanol as raw materials represents a promising production route, due to their availability, high productivity per unit of cultivated area, and renewable characteristics. However, ethanolic transesterification still faces challenges, such as lower productivity compared to methanolic processes and higher energy consumption due to reaction characteristics that impact the whole process. Bearing this in mind, this work aims to develop process simulations in Aspen Plus to optimize biodiesel production from palm oil and ethanol, coupled with an energy integration analysis. The process was divided into three main stages: (i) feed preparation, (ii) transesterification reaction, and (iii) separation and purification of biodiesel and glycerin. The key operational parameters evaluated were temperature, pressure, and ethanol:palm oil molar ratio, important factors to ensure reaction efficiency and biodiesel quality. Additionally, energy integration was performed using the Pinch Analysis method, which enabled the identification of major energy demands and potential opportunities for process improvement. Overall, the proposed simulation framework contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of biodiesel production through ethanolysis, reinforcing its role as a sustainable and viable alternative within the global energy mix.