Thermal Cracking of Jatropha Oil with Hydrogen to Produce Bio-Fuel Oil

Abstract

This study used thermal cracking with hydrogen (HTC) to produce bio-fuel oil (BFO) from jatropha oil (JO) and to improve its quality. We conducted HTC with different hydrogen pressures (P H2 ; 0-2.07 MPa or 0-300 psig), retention times (t r ; 40-780 min), and set temperatures (T C ; 623-683 K). By applying HTC, the oil molecules can be hydrogenated and broken down into smaller molecules. The acid value (AV), iodine value, kinematic viscosity (KV), density, and heating value (HV) of the BFO produced were measured and compared with the prevailing standards for oil to assess its suitability as a substitute for fossil fuels or biofuels. The results indicate that an increase in P H2 tends to increase the AV and KV while decreasing the HV of the BFO. The BFO yield (Y BFO ) increases with P H2 and t r . The above properties decrease with increasing T C . Upon HTC at 0.69 MPa (100 psig) H 2 pressure, 60 min time, and 683 K temperature, the Y BFO was found to be 86 wt%. The resulting BFO possesses simulated distillation characteristics superior to those of boat oil and heavy oil while being similar to those of diesel oil. The BFO contains 15.48% light naphtha, 35.73% heavy naphtha, 21.79% light gas oil, and 27% heavy gas oil and vacuum residue. These constituents can be further refined to produce gasoline, diesel, lubricants, and other fuel products.

Production of Torrefied Solid Bio-Fuel from Pulp Industry Waste

“…One of the foremost solutions for a substitute energy source for fossil fuels is to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources, which includes solar energy, biomass energy, hydroelectricity, wind energy, wave energy, tidal energy, geothermal energy, and waste-derived energy [5]. Among these types of renewable energy, biomass energy from vegetable-derived feedstock has a property known as carbon neutrality and may not contribute to an increase in CO 2 in the atmosphere from a life cycle viewpoint [6]. In other words, vegetable-derived bio-energy feedstock can effectively use carbon derived from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by way of photosynthesis during the growth process of the plants.…”