Investigations of Bio-gasoil Production

Abstract

Liquid engine fuels are the main source of power for transportation in the passenger sector. It is the projection of the European Union (EU) to reach 10% utilisation of renewable fuels by 2020. To achieve this goal the EU created the 2003/30/EC and furthermore the 2009/28/EC Directives. For example, the feedstocks of these renewable engine fuels can be non-edible oil plant hybrids, such as rapeseed oils with high euric acid content obtained from special hybrids of rape (e.g. Brassica napus) waste lards (used cooking oil and slaughterhouse lards). If the preconditions of utilisation are given with respect to the sustainability and technical compatibility of motor engines and vehicle construction, these bio components can be blended with motor fuels in large quantities. Considering the properties of currently used first generation biofuels, the maximum amount of bio-component in engine fuels is approximately 7 (v/v)% fatty acidmethylester in diesel fuels. A reliable production technology of second generation biofuels, which can be blended into diesel fuels is the heterogenic catalytic hydrogenation of triglycerides and waste lards. Furthermore, isomerisation can improve the quality of a bio-paraffin mixture. In this context, we studied the isomerisation of bio-paraffin mixtures, which were obtained from the hydrodeoxygenation of vegetable oil. The characteristics of these products were favourable, such as their cetane number being higher than 75, for example. The actual EN590:2013 standard does not limit the blending ratio of the paraffinic bio-component in diesel fuels. Consequently, these products obtained by the catalytic hydrogenation of vegetable oils can be blended into gasoil by up to 10 % or even more to meet the above EU requirements with respect to the utilisation of renewable fuels.