Cu MOF-biocarbon functional catalysts as adsorbent for oxygen-linked carbon capture via thermo-catalytic pyrolysis: A low-carbon fuel synthesis strategy

Abstract

Low-carbon fuel synthesis is encouraged as it is environmentally benign and aims to lessen the impact of global warming. This experimental investigation examines the synthesized Bombax ceiba oil (Bio-oil) based pyrolyzed oil utilizing Cu MOF-biocarbon catalysts (0.15 wt.%) via thermo-catalytic cracking and adsorption. The structural and thermal characteristics of the developed Cu MOF - biocarbon catalysts are investigated using Field Emission – Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (FE-SEM/EDAX), Attenuated Total Reflectance-Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-IR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry-Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). Following a thermo-catalytic reaction with a hot plate magnetic stirrer (600 rpm, 100 °C, and 1 h), the oily Cu MOF-biocarbon catalysts are separated from the pyrolyzed green fuel using high-speed centrifugation. The cracking and adsorption of the pyrolyzed green oil compounds are studied using 1H NMR, GC–MS, and thermal conductivity. The results indicate that alkane compounds increase from 3.25 to 6.70 % whereas oxygen incorporated compounds decrease from 96.75 to 93.30 % in the pyrolyzed oil. Furthermore, the GC–MS study shows that the separated oily catalysts adsorb 44.52 % of hydrocarbon (CH) and oxygen-linked (CHO) hydro-carbon compounds. Overall, the newly synthesized Cu MOF-biocarbon is considered as a potential functional catalyst for cracking and adsorption of alkane/oxygen bonded compounds (e.g., CH, CO etc.,), promoting the pyrolyzed oil as low-carbon fuel for better sustainable environment.