viability of this type of processes. In Table 1 can be found economic parameters
and costs of raw materials used in performing the analysis under Colombian
context.
7.4 Environmental Analysis
By the determination of the environmental impact caused by the proposed process,
the software developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Waste
Algorithm Reduction (WAR) was used. It allows to evaluate the environmental
impact through eight categories: Human Toxicity Potential by Ingestion (HTPI),
Human Toxicity Potential Exposure (HTPE), Terrestrial Toxicity Potential (TTP),
Aquatic Toxicity Potential (ATP), Global Warming Potential (GWP), Ozone
Depletion Potential (ODP), Smog Formation Potential (PCOP), and Acidification
Potential (AP) (Young et al. 2000).
7.5 Results and Discussion
For the production of biodiesel from microalgae, there is an energy requirement of
1,003,967 MJ/h (taken into account a calculation base for feed flow of 100,000 kg/h).
Here the percentage distribution of this energy is presented in Fig. 2. In this figure, it is
possible to observe how the extraction of the oil of the microalgae has the highest
energy consumption. One of the causes for this situation is due to the energy required
for solvent evaporation once the oil extraction has been performed. On the other hand,
there is the energetic requirement of the bioreactor where microalgae cultivation is
carried out. Under the conditions analyzed, it is necessary that the culture and
Culture and
harvesting
Nutrients
Oil
extraction
Biomass
Oil
microalgae
Washes
Biodiesel
production
Biodiesel
Water
Ethanol
Glycerol
Fig. 1 Stages considered in the analysis of this work
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D. L. Restrepo-Serna et al.