Development of Molecular Distillation Based Simulation and Optimization of Refined Palm Oil Process Based on Response Surface Methodology

Tehlah, Noree; Kaewpradit, Pornsiri; Mujtaba, Iqbal M.

doi:10.3390/pr5030040

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…Some of the recent works on modelling carried out using commercial simulation software are worth mentioning. In a recent work, Tehlah et al 18 developed a simulation model based on Aspen HYSYS for a molecular distillation column that is used for deodorisation of refined palm oil; the model was later optimised with the aid of response surface methodology (RSM). Another work by Kamarden et al 19 reported a simulation model based on Aspen Plus for integrated palm oil processes involving milling refining and oleochemical production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrated simulation–optimisation approach for free fatty acid removal in palm oil deodorisation process

Tan

Foo

Lakshmanan³

2021

Asia-Pacific J Chem Eng

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Deodorisation is the key process to produce high‐quality refined, bleached and deodorised palm oil (RBDPO) in a palm oil refinery. In this work, an integrated simulation–optimisation approach was adopted for the analysis of a deodorisation process in an operating palm oil refinery. The process includes a deodoriser unit that removes free fatty acids (FFA) from bleached palm oil (BPO), and a vacuum scrubber utilising palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) to reduce the FFA content entering the vacuum system. Being a proprietary technology, deodoriser is not found in the standard models of commercial simulation software. Approximation was made in simulation, with results compared to plant data. Detailed analyses showed that the reduction of FFA content relies on deodorisation temperature and pressure, stripping steam flowrate, as well as the temperature and flowrate of PFAD entering the vacuum scrubber. An optimisation model was solved to maximise profit from the deodorisation. Results showed that the FFA content entering the vacuum system is reduced significantly by 49.7%, leading to higher recovery of FFA in PFAD and lower loss into the condenser section. Applying the optimum values to the refinery has resulted in FFA levels greater than 91.2% in PFAD and RBDPO yield improvement of 0.5%.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrated simulation–optimisation approach for free fatty acid removal in palm oil deodorisation process

Tan

Foo

Lakshmanan³

2021

Asia-Pacific J Chem Eng

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“…The experimental result showed that all surfactants had a significant impact at high temperature and dosage of surfactant. Thus, RSM was utilised for designing the experimental, analysing the parameters dependent on analysis of variance, and developing the quadratic polynomial formal based model to study the influence of parameters on response and optimisation of the condition of process [23,24]. Moreover, the non-ionic surfactant is less used in demulsification of water in oil emulsion in comparison with other types of surfactant [2], while the properties of non-ionic surfactant are very promising.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Separation Emulsion via Non-Ionic Surfactant: An Optimization

2019

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Achieving emulsion stability in the petroleum industry is a major challenge due to several problems encountered in the oil refining process, such as corrosion in equipment, high-pressure drops in pipelines, and catalyst poisoning in upstream facilities. Thus, several methods are applied for emulsion treatment and chemical treatment using surface-active agents, a fundamental method in the petroleum industry. The present work investigated the performance of a non-ionic surfactant in separating water in a crude oil emulsion via the bottle test technique. Then, a Fractional Factorial Design (2 K−1 ) was used to characterise the effect of significant variables. In particular, a Pareto chart was employed and factors such as demulsifier dosage, toluene concentration, pressure, sitting time, and temperature were investigated. Accordingly, the parameters applied were further analysed using a Central Composite Design (CCD) based on the Response Surface Method (RSM). The experimental results based on analysis of Variance (ANOVA) show that demulsifier dosage, temperature, and sedimentation times were the main variables affecting the dehydration process, with the highest F-values being 564.74, 94.53 and 78.65 respectively. The increase in the surfactant dosage before critical concentration, temperature and sitting time leads to boosting dehydration efficiency. In addition, a mathematical model was established for the variables, with a coefficient of determination value of 0.9688. Finally, numerical optimisation was performed on the variables and the results show that the optimal values are 1000 ppm, 15.5 mL, −400 mmHg, 120 min, and 90 • C, for demulsifier dosage, toluene concentration, pressure, sitting time, and temperature, respectively.

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“…Oil sample was considered as a mixture of mono-, di-and triglycerides; tocopherols; and fatty acids identified as majority in composition of Camelina sativa oil. All compounds are in the simulator database and their properties were calculated using RK-ASPEN (Redlich-Kwong Soave with Wong-Sandler mixture rules) properties package [27]. The molecular distillation unit was modeled by combination of three simulator models: HeatX-Flash2-HeatX, for light molecule evaporation, vaporized molecule migration, and condensation, with mixture temperature and pressure as specifications.…”

Section: Process Design Economic and Environmental Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Highly Efficient Deacidification Process for Camelina sativa Crude Oil by Molecular Distillation

et al. 2021

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Recovery and reuse of high-acidity vegetable oil waste (higher content of free fatty acids) is a major concern for reducing their effect on the environment. Moreover, the conventional deacidification processes are known to show drawbacks, such as oil losses or higher costs of wastewater treatment, for which it requires great attention, especially at the industrial scale. This work presents the design of a highly efficient and sustainable process for Camelina sativa oil deacidification by using an ecofriendly method, namely molecular distillation. Experimental studies were performed to identify operating conditions for removing of free fatty acids (FFA) by molecular distillation which involves the oil evaporation in high vacuum conditions. The experimental studies were supported by statistical analysis and technical-economic analysis. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to formulate and validate second-order models to predict deacidification efficiency, FFA concentration, and triacylglyceride (TAG) concentration in deodorized oil based on three parameters effects, validated by statistical p-value < 0.05. For a desirability function value of 0.9826, the optimal parameters of evaporator temperature at 173.5 °C, wiper speed at 350 rpm, and feed flowrate at 2 mL/min were selected. The results for process design at optimal conditions (using conventional and molecular distillation methods) showed an efficiency over 92%, a significant reduction in FFA (up to 1%), and an increase in TAG (up to 93%) in refined oil for both methods. From an economical point of view, the deacidification by molecular distillation of Camelina sativa oil is a sustainable process: no wastewater generation, no solvents and water consumption, and lower production costs, obtaining a valuable by-product (FFA).

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Development of Molecular Distillation Based Simulation and Optimization of Refined Palm Oil Process Based on Response Surface Methodology

Cited by 16 publications

References 13 publications

An integrated simulation–optimisation approach for free fatty acid removal in palm oil deodorisation process

An integrated simulation–optimisation approach for free fatty acid removal in palm oil deodorisation process

Separation Emulsion via Non-Ionic Surfactant: An Optimization

Highly Efficient Deacidification Process for Camelina sativa Crude Oil by Molecular Distillation

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