Biodiesel from Soybean Oil (Alkaline Catalyst)
Biodiesel Production Costs Report | Issue C | Q3 2024
Report Details |
220 kta United States-based plant | Q3 2024 | 107 pages |
This report presents a cost analysis of a 220 kta (kilo metric ton per annum) United States-based plant. You can add a customized cost analysis, assuming another location (country), when ordering a premium edition of this report.
Report Abstract
This report presents the economics of Biodiesel production from soybean oil in the United States using a typical alkaline catalysis process. In this process, the triglycerides in the oil are reacted with methanol to make methyl esters. Crude glycerol is also generated as by-product.
The report provides a comprehensive study of Biodiesel production and related Biodiesel production cost, covering three key aspects: a complete description of the Biodiesel production process examined; an in-depth analysis of the related Biodiesel plant capital cost (Capex); and an evaluation of the respective Biodiesel plant operating costs (Opex).
The Biodiesel production process description includes a block flow diagram (BFD), an overview of the industrial site installations, detailing both the process unit and the necessary infrastructure, process consumption figures and comprehensive process flow diagrams (PFD). The Biodiesel plant capital cost analysis breaks down the Capex by plant cost (i.e., ISBL, OSBL and Contingency); owner's cost; working capital; and costs incurred during industrial plant commissioning and start-up. The Biodiesel plant operating costs analysis covers operating expenses, including variable costs like raw materials and utilities, and fixed costs such as maintenance, labor, and depreciation.
Process Schematic

The process under analysis comprises two major sections: (1) Transesterification; and (2) Product separation
Transesterification. Soybean oil and methanol (fresh and recycled) are fed to a two-stage mixer/settler unit, where they react in the presence of alkaline catalysts forming Biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) and glycerin. The glycerine and unreacted methanol form a heavy phase that separates from the light phase composed of biodiesel.
Product separation. The light phase is then washed with countercurrent water so that the methyl esters produced are separated from the glycerine dissolved in methanol and water, yielding high purity Biodiesel, which is dried before being sent to storage. The heavy phase and the aqueous solution from the wash column go through a distillation step to recover methanol and then an evaporator, to produce crude glycerine as by-product. The water separated in the evaporator is recycled to the wash column, creating a closed loop.
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Production Process Information
Process Consumptions
Labor Requirements
Plant Capital Cost Summary
Operating Cost Summary
Production Costs Datasheet
Plant Capital Cost Details
Operating Cost Details
Plant Cost Breakdowns
Plant Capacity Assessment
Process Flow Diagrams
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Content Highlights
Plant Capital Cost Summary
Summary outlining the capital cost required for building the Biodiesel production plant examined
Plant Capital Cost Details
Detailing of fixed capital (ISBL, OSBL & Owner’s Cost), working capital and additional capital requirements
Plant Cost Breakdowns
Breakdown of Biodiesel process unit (ISBL) costs and infrastructure (OSBL) costs; plant cost breakdown per discipline
Operating Costs Summary
Summary presenting the operating variable costs and the total operating cost of the Biodiesel production plant studied
Operating Cost Details
Detailing of utilities costs, operating fixed costs and depreciation
Plant Capacity Assessment
Comparative analysis of capital investment and operating costs for different Biodiesel plant capacities
Production Process Information
Block Flow Diagram, descriptions of process unit (ISBL) and site infrastructure (OSBL)
Process Consumptions
Raw materials and utilities consumption figures, by-products credits, labor requirements
Process Diagrams
Process flow diagrams (PFD), equipment list and industrial site configuration
Other Biodiesel Production Cost Reports
Biodiesel from Soybean Oil (Heterogeneous Catalyst)
This feasibility study assesses the economics of Biodiesel production from soybean oil considering a plant located in the United States. This process is a heterogeneous catalysis process similar to Axens Esterfip-H process. Crude glycerol is generated as by-product.
Details: 220 kta United States-based plant | Q3 2024 | 107 pages | Issue E From $799 USD
The cost analyses presented in this report target a 220 kta (kilo metric ton per annum per annum) United States-based plant. For those interested in cost analyses considering other plant capacities and/or locations, Intratec offers a customized analysis as an optional feature.
Biodiesel from Soybean Oil (Catalytic Distillation)
This report provides an economic analysis of Biodiesel production from soybean oil in the United States via transesterification using a catalytic distillation technology.
Details: 30 kta United States-based plant | Q3 2024 | 107 pages | Issue G From $999 USD
The cost analyses presented in this report target a 30 kta (kilo metric ton per annum per annum) United States-based plant. For those interested in cost analyses considering other plant capacities and/or locations, Intratec offers a customized analysis as an optional feature.
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Details: 1,000 kta United States-based plant | Q3 2024 | 107 pages | Issue A From $799 USD
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