\"Current energy prices, national energy security, and global climate change fuel our momentum to find efficient advanced fuels choices. In this study, biodiesel processing, and a novel design for next generation biodiesel plants are explored. During a National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps project we identified three creative and profitable improvements to the process: 1. Incorporating Energy intensive separations and reactions 2. Utilizing Low commodity glycerol and 3. Applying process intensification principles.
Current biodiesel processes are catalyzed processes using continuous stir reactors with distillation systems to separate material constituents. We tested a lab-scale nocatalyst supercritical biodiesel process using waste cooking oil and ethanol as feedstock. This led to the development of a scaled up modular EAC process using a non-catalyzed spiral bound plug flow reactor and advanced separation systems (ASS) to separate Free Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME)/Biodiesel (BD), glycerol and methanol.
We investigated E. Coli to digest glycerol and make ethanol at anaerobic conditions. We have designed various primers that make this DNA. We developed a scaled-up plant that incorporates a continuous tubular reactor where heat exchangers are networked and integrated into the plant loop. A 3000 kg/day biodiesel plant will operate in a continuous operation. Seven modular nodes were envisioned, designed, and simulated using Aspen Plus software. The process nodes easily transportable and connectable. A comprehensive design package includes the HAZOP study, control narrative, P&ID, process simulation and a conceptual 3D sketch\"-- Abstract, p. iii
","abstract_html":"<p>"Current energy prices, national energy security, and global climate change fuel our momentum to find efficient advanced fuels choices. In this study, biodiesel processing, and a novel design for next generation biodiesel plants are explored. During a National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps project we identified three creative and profitable improvements to the process: 1. Incorporating Energy intensive separations and reactions 2. Utilizing Low commodity glycerol and 3. Applying process intensification principles.</p> <p>Current biodiesel processes are catalyzed processes using continuous stir reactors with distillation systems to separate material constituents. We tested a lab-scale nocatalyst supercritical biodiesel process using waste cooking oil and ethanol as feedstock. This led to the development of a scaled up modular EAC process using a non-catalyzed spiral bound plug flow reactor and advanced separation systems (ASS) to separate Free Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME)/Biodiesel (BD), glycerol and methanol.</p> <p>We investigated E. Coli to digest glycerol and make ethanol at anaerobic conditions. We have designed various primers that make this DNA. We developed a scaled-up plant that incorporates a continuous tubular reactor where heat exchangers are networked and integrated into the plant loop. A 3000 kg/day biodiesel plant will operate in a continuous operation. Seven modular nodes were envisioned, designed, and simulated using Aspen Plus software. The process nodes easily transportable and connectable. A comprehensive design package includes the HAZOP study, control narrative, P&ID, process simulation and a conceptual 3D sketch"-- Abstract, p. iii</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Paudel, Ghana Shyam"],"institution":"Missouri University of Science and Technology","degree_name":"Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":null,"date_issued":"","date_published":null,"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:18:18Z","subjects":["Biodiesel","hybrid-energy system","modular process","plant design","process intensification","renewable","Chemical Engineering","Engineering"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/doctoral_dissertations/3286","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Paudel, Ghana Shyam"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation - Open Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Missouri University of Science and Technology"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Biodiesel","hybrid-energy system","modular process","plant design","process intensification","renewable","Chemical Engineering","Engineering"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/doctoral_dissertations/3286"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["\"Current energy prices, national energy security, and global climate change fuel our momentum to find efficient advanced fuels choices. In this study, biodiesel processing, and a novel design for next generation biodiesel plants are explored. During a National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps project we identified three creative and profitable improvements to the process: 1. Incorporating Energy intensive separations and reactions 2. Utilizing Low commodity glycerol and 3. Applying process intensification principles.
Current biodiesel processes are catalyzed processes using continuous stir reactors with distillation systems to separate material constituents. We tested a lab-scale nocatalyst supercritical biodiesel process using waste cooking oil and ethanol as feedstock. This led to the development of a scaled up modular EAC process using a non-catalyzed spiral bound plug flow reactor and advanced separation systems (ASS) to separate Free Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME)/Biodiesel (BD), glycerol and methanol.
We investigated E. Coli to digest glycerol and make ethanol at anaerobic conditions. We have designed various primers that make this DNA. We developed a scaled-up plant that incorporates a continuous tubular reactor where heat exchangers are networked and integrated into the plant loop. A 3000 kg/day biodiesel plant will operate in a continuous operation. Seven modular nodes were envisioned, designed, and simulated using Aspen Plus software. The process nodes easily transportable and connectable. A comprehensive design package includes the HAZOP study, control narrative, P&ID, process simulation and a conceptual 3D sketch\"-- Abstract, p. iii
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Novel supercritical biodiesel plant design & process scale-up"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Paudel, Ghana Shyam"],"dc:description.abstract":["\"Current energy prices, national energy security, and global climate change fuel our momentum to find efficient advanced fuels choices. In this study, biodiesel processing, and a novel design for next generation biodiesel plants are explored. During a National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps project we identified three creative and profitable improvements to the process: 1. Incorporating Energy intensive separations and reactions 2. Utilizing Low commodity glycerol and 3. Applying process intensification principles.
Current biodiesel processes are catalyzed processes using continuous stir reactors with distillation systems to separate material constituents. We tested a lab-scale nocatalyst supercritical biodiesel process using waste cooking oil and ethanol as feedstock. This led to the development of a scaled up modular EAC process using a non-catalyzed spiral bound plug flow reactor and advanced separation systems (ASS) to separate Free Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME)/Biodiesel (BD), glycerol and methanol.
We investigated E. Coli to digest glycerol and make ethanol at anaerobic conditions. We have designed various primers that make this DNA. We developed a scaled-up plant that incorporates a continuous tubular reactor where heat exchangers are networked and integrated into the plant loop. A 3000 kg/day biodiesel plant will operate in a continuous operation. Seven modular nodes were envisioned, designed, and simulated using Aspen Plus software. The process nodes easily transportable and connectable. A comprehensive design package includes the HAZOP study, control narrative, P&ID, process simulation and a conceptual 3D sketch\"-- Abstract, p. iii
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/doctoral_dissertations/3286"],"dc:subject":["Biodiesel","hybrid-energy system","modular process","plant design","process intensification","renewable","Chemical Engineering","Engineering"],"dc:title":["Novel supercritical biodiesel plant design & process scale-up"],"dc:type":["Dissertation - Open Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering"],"thesis:institution_name":["Missouri University of Science and Technology"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:18:18Z"}