Papers by Keyword: Biofuel

Abstract: The potential for biomass as an alternative source of energy is being studied widely. In this study, process flow design is done to analyse the pyrolysis of biomass and its products and how energy can be generated from its products. The energy used per process is calculated and the heat required in the processes were also calculated. The optimization of process parameters for the production of energy from wood biomass via pyrolysis was conducted using the Response Surface Methodology (RS) in the Design Expert 2022 environment using the following range of process parameters: temperature (400-1000°C), vapour residence time (5-30 min) and particle size (0.5-2.0 mm). The feasible combination of process parameters from the design of experiment was validated via physical experimentation having three responses namely: yield of char, yield of biofuel and yield of syngas. The designed experiments and corresponding outcomes produced three predictive models for estimating the yields of char, biofuel and syngas as a function of temperature, vapour residence time and particle size. The results obtained indicated that low temperature favours the formation of biochar while moderate temperature favours the formation of biofuel and the production of syngas is favoured by elevated temperature. The optimal values of process parameters and responses obtained include: temperature (642.271 °C), vapour residence time (6.248 min), particle size (0.603 mm), yield of char (71.9%), yield of biofuel (71.9%) and yield of syngas (76.5%). This study adds to the literature on the pyrolysis process for the conversion of wood biomass to energy. It also contributes to the fields of renewable and sustainable energy generation.Keywords: Biomass, biofuel, char, renewable and sustainable energy, RSM, syngas

Abstract: Humanity has been compelled to contemplate numerous alternative fuels because of the ever-increasing demand and cost of petroleum-based products. Numerous experimental studies on alternative fuels in diesel engines have been conducted in order to decrease emissions and improve performance of CI diesel engines. A major respondent in the alternative fuels industry at the moment is bio-diesel, which can be employed in any diesel engine. The use of nanoadditives to diesel-biodiesel fuel mixes has further shown notable outcomes. They improved the qualities of biofuel, which resulted in better efficiency and a significant drop in emissions. The emphasis of the current work is on the impact of bio-diesel nanoadditions on efficiency and emission levels of CI engines. The paper aims to review the use of metal oxide nanoadditives and the growing utilization of hybrid nanoadditives. nanoadditives like Al₂O₃, CeO₂, graphene oxide, TiO₂ and recent works in hybrid additives have been discussed. It is found that emissions of carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide have been significantly decreased, which allowed diesel engines to operate at their full potential.

Abstract: The research was performed with the aim of obtaining new data on effective methanogenesis during the fermentation of sugar production waste with the addition of lignocellulosic raw materials. Amaranth crops of different varieties were used as raw materials. After analyzing the component composition of fresh amaranth and dry raw materials according to standard methods, the samples were subjected to microbiological processing in the presence of an enzyme preparation in laboratory and industrial conditions. It was determined that when using the vegetative mass of amaranth plants with waste from sugar production in the processes of methanogenesis, the yield of biogas and its caloric content increase.

Abstract: In order to produce biodiesel from waste palm oil (WPO), a calcium oxide (CaO) catalyst was developed using waste powder chalk and tested as a transesterification catalyst for the biofuel process. Generating CaO catalyst required a calcination method that was carried out at 900 °C for 3 h. Further investigation was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The transesterification procedure was carried out applying response surface methodology (RSM) based on box-Behnken design (BBD). The BBD experimental design was employed, and the 3 process parameters investigated were catalyst concentration (3-5 wt.%), methanol/oil mole ratio (12-18), and reaction time (60-120 min). Experiments conducted under the optimal conditions predicted yielded over 97%, which was in excellent agreement with the expected value (a relatively small margin of error). This study demonstrates that WPO and waste chalk as low-cost feedstock are excellent sources of raw material for biodiesel production, and that a sustainable generation of biodiesel can be accomplished by optimizing process variables.

Abstract: Demands for energy are rising as the world's population expands. To meet these demands, fossil fuels have been overused, yet this over reliance on them has led to their depletion. The usage of fossil fuels has also significantly contributed to the release of greenhouse gases, which is a serious environmental concern. Sustainable energy is therefore environmentally friendly and financially sound. Petro-diesel can be replaced by biodiesel because it is biodegradable and less hazardous. Biofuel is any fuel produced from biomass, which can be either animal fats or waste, plant or algae material as a feedstock. Biomass benefits in producing fuels which helps to lessen the demand for petroleum fuel and products. Petroleum fuel and gas increase the greenhouse gas emissions profile of the transportation sector. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is the 14^th world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. This is due to the emissions resulting from burning and heavy reliance on coal. Since biofuel can be produced domestically from natural sources like soybeans, rapeseed, macadamia nuts, coconuts, and even leftover cooking, it has the potential to serve as a remarkable substitute for the commonly used petroleum-derived diesel fuel. This study addresses the historical development of macadamia nuts with a focus on the South African Macadamia Nuts (SAMN) industry, its origin, and as a feedstock for biodiesel production. The generation and classification of biodiesel, physicochemical properties, biodiesel standards, and both American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), European Committee for Standardization (EN 14214), and South African biodiesel framework standards are discussed. Furthermore, the biodiesel blending requirements, techniques, and benefits were outlined. Finally, the biodiesel regulatory framework of SA and biodiesel framework as per the Biodiesel Task team (BTT) was examined.

Abstract: Although fossil fuel continues to play a dominant role in global energy system unfortunately their life span is threatened as the fossil reserves are running out. Except for the fact that they are readily available, tried and tested, unfortunately they bring about a negative environmental and climate impact. When the fossil fuels are burned, they produce both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which is the largest driver of global climate change and air pollution. This has caused a need to explore and transition to a cleaner and renewable energy resource like biofuel. Biofuel is a combination of fatty acid alkyl esters achieved by the esterification and transterification of triglycerides that can either be animal fats and vegetable oil with methanol and ethanol. Biodiesel provides several positive benefits by helping in decreasing the country’s dependence on the importation of crude oils, it also reduces the greenhouse gas emissions and advances the lubricating property. Biodiesel is produced and deployed globally with China being the country with the highest biofuel capacity in the world, with nearly 29.8 gigawatts as of 2021. It is followed by Brazil which is ranked second, with a biofuel capacity of 16.3 gigawatts. The selection of a feedstock in biofuel production has a noticeable impact as it determines if a biofuel will be formed or not from the transesterification process performed. The fatty acid / triglyceride content especially the Mono-Unsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA’s) are of interest. The higher the MUFA’s, the higher possibility of a successful transterification hence biofuel being the by-products/formation with less catalyst and alcohol used. Feedstocks with over 40% fatty acids, especially the MUFA’s are favorable for biodiesel formation. Almost 80% of Macadamia’s fatty acids (MFAs) are palmitoleic acids (C16:1; ~20%) and Monounsaturated, mostly oleic (C18:1; ~60%). This study reviews the preparation of biofuel utilizing Macadamia nut oil (MNO) as a feedstock for sustainable biodiesel Production.

Abstract: In the present study, a solid biofuel based on Olive Pomace Waste (OPW) is manufactured in order to estimate the energy for heating water. A mechanical hydraulic press is constructed in order to create the block of OPW biofuel. To proceed, the standard form is burned to heat water in a tank where a thermocouple is placed to estimate the heating energy created by OPW blocks. Then, the standard OPW blocks are compared experimentally with other mixed biofuel blocks such as, waste Beeswax, oak charcoal, dry olive leaf and waste wood sawdust. It is shown that the standard OPW blocks could increase the temperature of 3 Liters of water to 34 °C whereas with the modified OPW mixed with other constituents temperatures up to 65 °C can be reached.

Abstract: The increasing demand for roads has an impact on the supply of raw materials, especially asphalt. Asphalt oil as conventional asphalt whose quantity is decreasing so that in the end it cannot meet the needs of road construction. Asphalt Buton (Asbuton) offers an opportunity as an alternative natural resource that will be able to supply asphalt needs. Asbuton is still not popularly used due to several shortcomings, including the need for material as an asbuton modifier. Asbuton needs for this material because asbuton has been exposed to the open air for hundreds of years so that the liquid fraction of maltene is reduced because bitumen is trapped in asbuton minerals. This study aimed to evaluate the addition of materials such as vegetable oil with 13 types with which has the potential to serve as a solvent to dissolve bitumen from asbuton in order to improve CPHMA performance. The evaluation conducted using the Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE) and the Marshall tests and the results of the LLE test showed the dissolution of bitumen by vegetable oil produced a high extraction efficiency (E) while Marshall test stability value had a stability value below the allowable standard for CPHMA and this means vegetable oil is not suitable as the solvent. It was, therefore, recommended that other treatments or materials are added to the vegetable oil to increase its ability to dissolve asbuton bitumen towards improving CPHMA performance.

Abstract: Synthesis of Ni-NH₂/mesoporous silica bifunctional catalyst for conversion of used cooking oil into biofuel was carried out. The impregnation of Ni into the MS8 with a specific surface area of 666.6 m²/g, volume pore of 0.46 cm³/g, and diameter pore of 4.9 nm was done by wet impregnation method. The functionalization of NH₂ into the MS8 and Ni/MS8 was done by the grafting method. The catalytic activity test in used cooking oil hydrocracking was done by thermal (without catalyst), catalyst physical mixture of Ni/MS8 and NH₂/MS8, and Ni-NH₂/MS8 bifunctional catalyst. The results showed that the Ni/MS8 catalyst with acidity values ​​of 12.804 mmol/g was successfully modified with amine groups to produce Ni-NH₂/MS8 bifunctional catalyst. This catalyst was utilized in the hydrocracking process of used cooking oil to produce the highest liquid product of 92.85 wt.% with the selectivity of gasoline and diesel fractions of 4.04 and 63.35 wt.% respectively.

Abstract: Catalytic cracking and hydroprocessing are two processes used to convert vegetable oil into biofuel, the combination of the two processes is called the hydrocracking reaction. Bintaro oil which is non-edible oil and has a considerable oil content of 35-50% can be recommended as a source of vegetable oil that can be processed into biogasoil. Catalyst preparation was carried out using the incipient wetness impregnation method. The loading support variable HZSM-5 used is 5% and 10%, and the Ni-Cu metal ratio is 1: 2. Ni-Cu / HZSM-5 catalyst was analyzed using BET, EDX, and XRD to determine the characteristics of the catalyst. Furthermore, the hydrocracking process was carried out by mixing 2 grams of Ni-Cu / HZSM-5 catalyst and 250 ml of Bintaro oil into a stirred batch reactor at a reaction temperature of 375 °C for 2 hours. The liquid product (biofuel) produced from the hydrocracking process was analyzed using GC-MS to determine the hydrocarbon composition. The reaction routes that dominate in this study are the decarbonylation and decarboxylation reactions. This can be seen from the largest hydrocarbon composition of the biofuel products that are C15 and C17. The highest value of biofuel selectivity was obtained by loading support at 5%, namely 0.6% gasoline, 5.4% kerosene, and 92.6% gasoil.