This study deals with the economic feasibility of biodiesel production in Brazil by using the pequi oil as raw matter. The software SIMB-E was used during simulations in which a cash flow model related economic indexes with biodiesel production features. Competitiveness between selling prices of biodiesel and petro diesel, fixed capital costs, operating costs, depreciation, and auxiliary costs were also considered during the economic calculations. A total of 8 scenarios of production were simulated and 4 of them presented competitive biodiesel selling prices, being considered as worthwhile projects in the final analysis. But, all simulated scenarios were found to be potentially profitable and should be motivated considering sustainability, social and environmental aspects. The worthwhile projects were plants with alkaline transesterification, indicating that the success of biodiesel production from alternative raw matter still depends on incomes from the feedstock co-products and glycerol, as well as on the costs of catalyst and feedstock. Pequi contributed to the feasibility of biodiesel production due to its high yield, low costs of fruits and good valuation of its co-products.
展开▼