Economic analysis and technicalities of acrylic acid production from crude glycerol

Abstract

Glycerol is the main byproduct of industrial biodiesel plants, and new technological routes using it as feedstock have been studied, due to the increase in world biofuel production. One of the possible applications is in the production of acrylic acid, a product with several industrial applications. This study analyzed a new process of converting crude glycerol, through purification for the removal of impurities, followed by oxidative dehydration reaction in a single step and purification until glacial acrylic acid specification standards are met. It was attested that the process is economically viable, with a payback period of 5 years for an NPV/Investment greater or equal to 2 and an IRR greater or equal to 10% per annum, or 4 years in case tax incentives offered for the development of green technologies.