Abstract
Biomass-derived bio-oil is a sustainable and renewable energy resource, and liquefaction is a potential conversion way to produce bio-oil. Emulsification is a physical upgrading technology, which blends immiscible liquids into a homogeneous emulsion through the addition of an emulsifier. Liquefaction bio-oil from food waste is characterized by its high pour point when compared to diesel fuel. In order to partially replace diesel fuel by liquefaction bio-oil, this study aimed to develop a method to simultaneously extract and emulsify the bio-oil using a commercial surfactant (Atlox 4914, CRODA, Snaith, UK). The solubility and stability of the emulsions at various operating conditions such as the bio-oil-to-emulsifier ratio (B/E ratio), storage temperature and duration, and co-surfactant (methanol) addition were analyzed. The results demonstrate that higher amounts of bio-oil (7 g) and emulsifier (7 g) at a B/E ratio = 1 in an emulsion have a higher solubility (66.48 wt %). When the B/E ratio was decreased from 1 to 0.556, the bio-oil solubility was enhanced by 45.79%, even though the storage duration was up to 7 days. Compared to the emulsion stored at room temperature (25 °C), its storage at 100 °C presented a higher solubility, especially at higher B/E ratios. Moreover, when methanol was added as a co-surfactant during emulsification at higher B/E ratios (0.714 to 1), it rendered better solubility (58.83–70.96 wt %). Overall, the emulsified oil showed greater stability after the extraction-emulsification process.
Highlights
In the 21st century, food wastes in excess of one billion metric tons are generated worldwide every year from various sources and such great amounts lead to a severe environmental problem
When the bio-oil amount increased from 1 g to 6 g with the fixed B/E ratio of 1, its solubility increased from 55.70 wt % to 71.35 wt %
When a higher amount of emulsifier was used with the B/E ratio decreasing from 1 to 0.556, the bio-oil solubility increased from 12.02 wt % to 57.81 wt % after a 7-day duration
Summary
In the 21st century, food wastes in excess of one billion metric tons are generated worldwide every year from various sources and such great amounts lead to a severe environmental problem. Failure to recycle or treat food wastes properly will lead to the emission of methane (CH4 ) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) during bio-degradation. These greenhouse gases may cause human health and environmental problems [1]. There is a great challenge in the conversion of food wastes into biofuels by traditional thermochemical conversions such as pyrolysis and gasification. The high moisture content of food waste requires more time and energy for drying before the conversion proceeds
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