Title: Optimal planning of a biofuel supply chain using a multi-criteria optimisation model

Authors: S. Syafiie; Maryam Valizadeh

Addresses: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor DE, Malaysia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor DE, Malaysia

Abstract: Biofuels, for reasons such as the high demand of fossil fuels, the need for energy security and concerns over greenhouse gas emissions, have attracted the attention of researchers. Production of biofuels can be costly. On the other hand, the environmental benefits of biofuels depend on the technique they are produced, transported and used. This article studies a mathematical programming model for optimal planning of a biofuel supply chain based on existing facilities. The developed model is based on multi-objective linear programming (MOLP) and considers the economic, environmental and social concerns related to the proposed biofuel supply chain. The model takes into account feedstock availability, biofuel demand, existing biofuel plants and processing technologies. The proposed model is used to evaluate biodiesel production from palm oil and jatropha oil based on existing biodiesel plants in Malaysia. From developed model, the ε-constraint method is applied to solve the optimisation problem. Solving of the proposed model determines the optimal quantity of biomass to be harvested, transportation schedules and the quantity of biodiesel produced at biorefineries as well.

Keywords: biofuels; multi-objective linear programming; biodiesel production; palm oil; jatropha; social factors; supply chain planning; biofuel supply chains; multicriteria optimisation; supply chain management; SCM; feedstock availability; biofuel demand; existing plants; processing technology; Malaysia; biomass; transport scheduling; biorefineries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPSE.2016.081205

International Journal of Process Systems Engineering, 2016 Vol.4 No.1, pp.1 - 18

Received: 03 Nov 2015
Accepted: 31 Jan 2016
Published online: 27 Dec 2016 *