Catalytic hydrogenation of agricultural residues to green diesel: Process optimization with FeMo/Al2O3 catalyst

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ABSTRACT Limitations of converting agricultural residues into green diesel include high production costs, particularly for catalysts and hydrogen, and technical viability. Safety risks also arise from high-pressure hydrogenation, requiring precautions and specialized equipment. This research evaluates green diesel from agricultural residues via hydrogenation with FeMo/Al2O3 under optimized conditions. Utilizing FeMo/Al2O3 heterogeneous catalysts, the process demonstrates high precision and efficiency. The catalytic hydrogenation reactors, specifically designed for converting cellulosic biomass into green diesel, ensure both effectiveness and safety, particularly when managing the high pressures and temperatures required. Notably, the highest yield occurs at a specific temperature, with returns decreasing when operating beyond this optimal temperature range. Outcomes derived from experimentation and MATLAB data analysis, exploring catalyst efficiency, green diesel production, catalyst stability, reusability, techno-economic assessment, cost and environmental impact assessment, and life cycle analysis. Petroleum diesel has the highest emissions at 0.88 kg CO2/MJ, followed by biodiesel at 0.8 kg CO2/MJ, and green diesel with the lowest emissions at 0.1 kg CO2/MJ. This indicates that green diesel emits the least amount of greenhouse gases, with petroleum diesel emitting nearly nine times more than green diesel. .