Nanocatalysis for the Conversion of Nonedible Biomass to Biogasoline via Deoxygenation Reaction

Abstract

Deoxygenation of nonedible biomass is one of the main challenges for the development of technologies to produce biofuels, which possess high thermal and chemical stability to be used in combustion engines. Generally, deoxygenation reaction is facilitated by a suitable catalyst based on the surface area, particle size, porosity, and acidity–basicity. Lately, catalysis in nanodimension (nanocatalyst) has received a great attention as deoxygenation catalyst. Due to high surface area to volume ratios of nanocatalyst, it is able to tune the physicochemical properties toward higher catalytic activity. This is because nanocatalyst can overcome several limitations in a heterogeneous system, such as mass transfer, long reaction time, catalyst deactivation, and poisoning. Thus, many attempts have been made to develop new forms of nanocatalysts for deoxygenation. The catalytic conversion system of biomass to biogasoline has been reported using different edible and nonedible feedstock. Recent studies have focused on the synthesis and manipulation of nanocatalysts to improve the product yield and selectivity under mild operating conditions. In this chapter, the establishment of nanocatalysts for converting nonedible oil to bio-olefin (biogasoline) via deoxygenation process (e.g., hydrodeoxygenation, hydrocracking, and decarboxylation) has been highlighted.