observed that the greatest expense presented in this productive process is associated
with raw materials. This is because it was necessary to use a high feed flow in the
growing stage to obtain an amount of oil such that it could be used for the production of biodiesel. But even with this consideration, only the production of
biodiesel does not provide a profit so that it can meet the expenses incurred
throughout the process allowing a positive a profit margin. In this sense, other
processes can be implemented which allow the production of other value-added
products from the waste generated within the process. This alternative may lead to a
decrease in OPEX, which is mainly represented by 76.14% of the cost of utilities
required in the process. For this, it is necessary to carry out an energy integration of
the different stages of the process, thus allowing a higher use in the energy and
exergetic resources.
As for the environmental analysis, it is obtained that given the amount of waste
generated in this process, a negative impact on the environment was presented. That
is, the waste generated presents a higher index of contamination than the reagents
used. The above can be seen in Fig. 5. Among the wastes generated are those
Fig. 4 Results of economic
analysis by the biodiesel
production from microalgae
Fig. 5 Results of
environmental analysis by the
biodiesel production from
microalgae
9 Biofuels from Microalgae: Energy and Exergy Analysis for the …
195
with raw materials. This is because it was necessary to use a high feed flow in the
growing stage to obtain an amount of oil such that it could be used for the production of biodiesel. But even with this consideration, only the production of
biodiesel does not provide a profit so that it can meet the expenses incurred
throughout the process allowing a positive a profit margin. In this sense, other
processes can be implemented which allow the production of other value-added
products from the waste generated within the process. This alternative may lead to a
decrease in OPEX, which is mainly represented by 76.14% of the cost of utilities
required in the process. For this, it is necessary to carry out an energy integration of
the different stages of the process, thus allowing a higher use in the energy and
exergetic resources.
As for the environmental analysis, it is obtained that given the amount of waste
generated in this process, a negative impact on the environment was presented. That
is, the waste generated presents a higher index of contamination than the reagents
used. The above can be seen in Fig. 5. Among the wastes generated are those
Fig. 4 Results of economic
analysis by the biodiesel
production from microalgae
Fig. 5 Results of
environmental analysis by the
biodiesel production from
microalgae
9 Biofuels from Microalgae: Energy and Exergy Analysis for the …
195