Title:
Evaluation of Bio-char Based Products as Hydrotreating Catalysts for the Production of Renewable Fuel
Author(s):
Venter, R.J., Booysen, J.G., Marx, S., Schabort, C.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Increasing demand for alternative fuel from fossil fuel exists which has led to the development of new technologies for the production of bio-fuels. One such technology involves the hydrotreatment of vegetable oils such as cottonseed oil to produce bio-hydrocarbons. The catalyst plays an important role in the hydrotreatment process and also makes up a significant part of the cost of hydrotreatment. The utilization of waste titanium tetrachloride in the production of hydrotreating catalysts could result in a situation where a waste material is transformed into useful product. Products from the hydrothermal liquefaction process was tested as catalysts during hydrotreatment of cottonseed oil. Five catalysts were prepared and tested as follows: 1) biochar produced at 260 °C, 2) Biochar produced at 320 °C, 3) ash of the 260 °C biochar, 4) ash of the 350 °C biochar and 5) the 320 °C biochar heated to 900°C under nitrogen atmosphere. Cottonseed oil was hydrotreatment in a 350 ml batch reactor using the 5 different catalysts. This was done under hydrogen atmosphere with an initial hydrogen pressure of 9 MPa, a retention time of 1 hour at a reaction temperature of 410°C. The liquid product produced using the 5 catalysts was compared with the liquid product produced with a commercial NiMo hydrotreating catalyst. The 320 °C biochar yielded the highest n-alkane content with a liquid product composition similar to that of the commercial NiMo hydrotreating catalyst as well as the fuel with the highest energy value of all 5 catalysts of 45.47 MJ/kg. The conversion of cottonseed oil for the 5 catalysts was lower compared to that of the commercial catalyst showing that direct co-liquefaction of the biomass with the metal does not result in a hydrotreating catalyst with high enough catalyst activity.
Keywords:
hydrotreatment, biochar, catalyst, carbon, renewable fuel, catalyst support, de-oxygenation, crude cottonseed oil
Topic:
Biomass Conversion Technologies for Liquid and Gaseous Fuels, Chemicals and Materials
Subtopic:
Pyrolysis and other biomass liquefaction technologies
Event:
25th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
3AV.3.30
Pages:
1175 - 1179
ISBN:
978-88-89407-17-2
Paper DOI:
10.5071/25thEUBCE2017-3AV.3.30
Price:
FREE
