Processing of Triglycerides to Diesel Range Hydrocarbon Fuels: Easily Practicable Small Scale Approach (original) (raw)

Utilization of Triglycerides and Related Feedstocks for Production of Clean Hydrocarbon Fuels and Petrochemicals: A Review

Waste and Biomass Valorization, 2010

Catalytic deoxygenation of triglycerides and related feedstocks for production of biofuels is reviewed in this paper. Green diesel, triglyceride-based hydrocarbons in diesel boiling range, is an attractive alternative to biodiesel—a product of transesterification of vegetable oils, particularly due to its superior fuel properties and full compatibility with current diesel fuels. Two basic approaches to production of green diesel—(i) hydrodeoxygenation of triglycerides and related compounds over metal sulfide catalysts and (ii) deoxygenation over supported noble metal catalysts are thoroughly discussed from the point of view of reaction conditions, catalyst composition and reaction pathways and products. Furthermore, catalytic cracking of triglycerides and related feedstocks over microporous and mesoporous catalysts is reviewed as well. It constitutes an interesting alternative to deoxygenation using hydrotreating and noble metal catalysts as it does not consume hydrogen. It provides a wide spectrum of products reaching from olefins to green gasoline and diesel.

Current State and Perspectives on Transesterification of Triglycerides for Biodiesel Production

Catalysts

Triglycerides are the main constituents of lipids, which are the fatty acids of glycerol. Natural organic triglycerides (viz. virgin vegetable oils, recycled cooking oils, and animal fats) are the main sources for biodiesel production. Biodiesel (mono alkyl esters) is the most attractive alternative fuel to diesel, with numerous environmental advantages over petroleum-based fuel. The most practicable method for converting triglycerides to biodiesel with viscosities comparable to diesel fuel is transesterification. Previous research has proven that biodiesel–diesel blends can operate the compression ignition engine without the need for significant modifications. However, the commercialization of biodiesel is still limited due to the high cost of production. In this sense, the transesterification route is a crucial factor in determining the total cost of biodiesel production. Homogenous base-catalyzed transesterification, industrially, is the conventional method to produce biodiesel. ...

Production of Biodiesel from Waste Fat and Grease

Processing of waste triglycerides by conventional trans-esterification is problematic due to high free fatty acid (FFA) content. Free fatty acid turns to soap that renders the trans-esterification process inoperable. Clean triglycerides such as soy, corn, and canola oils are low in FFA and easy to process but too expensive as fuel feedstocks. We have been exploring a system that combines thermal cracking of waste triglycerides with acid esterification. Middle distillates (bp 165oC-345oC) obtained by continuous thermal cracking of waste triglycerides were batch-esterified using methanol and Amberlyst 36 (wet). The yields of middle distillate from thermal cracking ranged from 58-63wt % for trap grease and 60-68 wt % for rendered animal fat. More than half of the middle distillates was fatty acids and the rest were conventional hydrocarbons. The esterification of the middle distillate with methanol was done at 90oC for 20h. Although methanol boils at 67oC, there was sufficient methanol...

A Review on Methods of Transesterification of Oils and Fats in Bio-diesel Formation

International Journal of ChemTech Research

Bio-diesel is an alternative to petroleum-based fuels resultant from animal fats, vegetable oils, and used waste cooking oil including triglycerides. Transesterification is the most familiar method and leads to monoalkyl esters of vegetable oils and fats, called bio-diesel when used for fuel purposes. The used cooking oils are used as raw material, adaption of continuous transesterification process and recovery of high quality glycerol from biodiesel by-product (glycerol) are most important options to be considered to lower the cost of biodiesel. The transesterification reaction is affected by molar ratio of glycosides to alcohol, catalysts, reaction temperature, reaction time and free fatty acids and water content of oils or fats. The mechanism of the transesterification show how the reaction occurs and progresses. The processes of transesterification with supercritical catalysts are also addressed.

Production of Biodiesel through Interesterification of Triglycerides with Methyl Acetate

In recent years, there has been great interest in substituting fossil fuels with biofuels. Bioethanol and biodiesel are alternatives, currently in the commercial phase, that can replace gasoline and diesel, respectively. Biodiesel comes from the triglycerides contained in vegetable oils and animal fats, which cannot be used directly in diesel engines because of their high viscosity. The production of biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) is based on the transesterification reaction of triglycerides with methanol. In this process, low purity glycerol is formed as a byproduct, reducing the economy of the process. To improve this, methanol can be replaced by methyl acetate, which would yield a higher value added product, glycerol triacetate (also called triacetin). Unlike glycerol, triacetin is completely soluble in the biodiesel, which allows their mutual mixing for use as fuel in diesel engines. The reaction between triglycerides and methyl acetate is known as interesterification and ...

Methyl_Ester Bio_Fuel Characteristics as a Subistitute Renewable I.C.E. Fuels: 1- Fuel Perparation and Performance Tests of Waste Vegetable Oil as Bio_Diesel

AEJ - Alexandria Engineering Journal

The production of the methyl ester of waste vegetable oil [MEWVO] for use as a bio-diesel fuel has been studied. The essential part of the process is the trans-esterification of waste vegetable oil with methanol alcohol, in the presence of an alkyl sodium hydroxyl-catalyst, to yield the methyl ester bio-diesel of waste vegetable oil as a product and glycerin as a by-product. Bio-diesel production unit has been built to produce daily about 200 liters of bio-diesel fuel and 40 liters of glycerin. Experiments have been performed for the purpose of determining the optimum conditions for the production of MEWVO. It was found that the room temperature of 25 oC; sodium hydroxide catalyst percentage by weight of waste vegetable oil 0.5-0.6 %; stirring time 60 minutes and 50% excess of methanol with NaOCH3 were optimum conditions. In addition, agitation was not necessary after the reaction mixture became homogeneous. Density, viscosity, calorific value, and Cetane No. of the MEWVO were measu...