Green Diesel Production using Egg Shell Derived CaO catalyst: Effect of catalyst and reaction process

Abstract

Increasing demand for fossil fuels and the resulting emissions for it have become an interesting research topic for biofuel production from renewable natural resources aimed at development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this research, algae was used as a biological source for the production of biofuels because it has many advantages, represented by its high oil content, which may reach 50% of the dry cell weight, it does not need arable land, it can grow even in salt water. A Cladophora glomerata alga was used and extraction oil from biomass with the help of methanol solvent was using a Soxhlet device. The produced oil was being tested by Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) as well as by thermal analysis and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). After that the resulting oil was used through the process of deoxygenation using a high pressure reactor with a heterogeneous catalyst prepared from natural sources. Recent studies have shown that these catalysts have high performance compared to other catalysts as well as low cost, because they can be obtained from natural sources that are abundantly available. Heterogeneous catalysts were produced in this paper from chicken eggshells by calcining them at high temperatures to obtain calcium oxide (CaO) and these catalysts were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Analysis of Infrared Spectrum (FTIR) and Brunauer Emmet surface area. -Teller (BET). Ultimately, fuel properties similar to those of mineral diesel are obtained. Represented by Flash point 49, Cetane number 39, Cloud point 7, Calorific value 41 and acid value 0.374.