Biofuel Quality Research Articles

Molecular Composition of Impurities in Used Cooking Oil and Their Effect on Hydrotreated Biofuel Quality

Molecular Composition of Impurities in Used Cooking Oil and Their Effect on Hydrotreated Biofuel Quality

Heavea brasilienis (Rubber seed oil) as cost effective non edible feedstock for sustainable high quality biofuel production.

Biodiesel is renewable fuel acquired from biomass which has short chain alkyl esters derived from vegetable oil or animal fats. It has greater advantages over traditional diesel oil. In first level esterification, H2SO4 is used because the acid catalyst to decrease the FFA from 4. 5% to 0. 85 %. In 2nd stage, transesterification chemical process was carried with methanol and NaOH, the elevated temperature 600c and response time is 45 min to 75min. Only a few experiments have been carried out for evaluating the results of equation using a Scientific tool.

Comparative Analysis of Biodiesel Produced from Blends of Palm Kernel Shell and Cocoa Pods Oils with Conventional Diesel Fuel: Characterizations, FTIR, GC-MS, XRD and SEM Analysis of the Nano Catalyst

The uncertainty of predicting the conditions of bio oils for the production of quality biofuels and reusability of catalyst, saving cost of production and time, make characterization of the oils/catalyst imperative. Characterization of bio oils, extracted from palm kernel shell and cocoa pods, the blends, catalyst and biodiesel produced therefrom is investigated. A maximum biodiesel yield of 76.05% was obtained at optimal conditions. Titanuim oxide used proved to be efficient catalyst for converting the oil blends to biodiesel. The established results obtained show kinematic viscosity of 5.65 – 7.78 mm2s-1 @ 40 oC, density of 0.8428 – 0.8642 kg/m3, cloud point of 4.48 – 6.48 oC, fire point of 108 – 150 oC, cetane index of 37.78 – 30.13, acid value of mg KOH/g, API gravity of 32.89 – 29, anicidine point of 50 – 46 oC etc. All the values fell within the recommended ASTM and EN standards. The GC-MS, XRD, EDX, SEM, and FTIR analyses carried out to evaluate the quality of the sample with respect to deterioration, gave an ester percentage of 99.9% for the bio-oil and biodiesel, which is within the minimum standard range of not less than 96.5% recommended. The GC-MS of the blended oil shows that the most prevalent fatty acids identified amongst 13 other distinct compounds were methyl linolenate, methyl palmitate, methyl oleate and methyl eicosadinoate with percentage concentrations of 63.03, 26.9, 8.1 and 2% respectively. The XRD analysis confirmed the titanium oxide anatase structure with a peak of 25.4 degrees. The SEM analysis shows high porosity with high specific surface area of the catalyst at magnification of 80 – 269μm; and the FTIR analysis revealed that the functional groups for the bio-oil and blended biodiesel were in range.

Sulfur release behavior and sulfur fixation mechanism during biomass microwave co-pyrolysis of Ascophyllum and rice straw

Co-pyrolysis with low-sulfur biomass is expected to improve the yield and quality of bio-fuels, without the usage of calcium-based desulfurizer. Sulfur transformation during microwave fluidized-bed co-pyrolysis between terrestrial and marine biomass (Ascophyllum, AS; Rice straw, RS) was investigated. Sulfur release was promoted during biomass co-pyrolysis, but it was inhibited during pyrolysis between AS and low-sulfur char. Thermal cracking of biomass was promoted during co-pyrolysis between biomass, accelerating the combination of H atoms and −SH radicals. Introduction of low-sulfur bio-char (CA) inhibited the generation of bio-char and the release of sulfur. Released sulfur was captured by –OH/C = C functional groups on bio-char through dehydration reactions/addition reactions, forming mercaptan in bio-char. Furthermore, introduction of microwave and bio-char promoted the cyclization and aromatization reaction, converting mercaptan to thiophene and improving the thermal stability of solid sulfur, and thus increasing in-situ sulfur fixation rate.

Design and Development of Biofuel and Chicken Feed (Broilers) for Janitor Fish (Pterygoplichthys) Utilizing AVR Microcontroller (Esp32)

Liquid biofuels are emerging as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, with versatile applications from transportation to heating. This study aims to produce biofuel from janitor fish, an invasive species with a high fatty acid content that can be used as animal feed because of its high protein content. This combined strategy seeks to reduce environmental impact while utilizing the biomass of the species for energy and nutritional purposes. The research goal was to automate extracting biofuel from janitor fish and turning the remaining biomass into chicken feed. The experimental setup comprised a pyrolysis process of 12 kilograms of janitor fish with 21 liters of water to extract bio-oil. The system included four modules: boiling, grinding, separating, and sensor, designed to make conversion operations more efficient. The results showed a high system efficacy, with biofuel production obtaining 97% accuracy for outputs ranging from 450 to 500 ml and chicken feed production achieving 98% accuracy for 12 kilograms feed. Biofuel quality remained similar throughout experiments, with 98% accuracy in “gasera” life ratings. Furthermore, two-day trials of chicken feed proved its nutritional sufficiency and acceptability, with an overall accuracy of 96% in projected weight growth. Finally, the study demonstrated the successful use of janitor fish to produce biofuel and chicken feed, emphasizing the system's potential contribution to sustainable energy and agriculture. Comprehensive testing confirmed the system's performance, demonstrating its dependability and usefulness in converting a hazardous species into beneficial resources.

Algal consortia as the flexible bio-system for wastewater treatment: Effect of different light intensities on photosynthetic performance, anti-oxidative system and biodiesel production of consortia

Competence of microalgae consortia-1 (Chlorococcum humicola and Tetradesmus sp.) and consortia-2 (Chlorococcum humicola, Scenedesmus vacuolatus and Tetradesmus sp.) was analyzed by examining their adaptability potential in wastewater under different light intensities (20 W/m2 and 40 W/m2). The results depicted highest decline in nutrients and metal concentration (40–90%) at light intensity of 40 W/m2 by consortia-1 and consortia-2 treated with wastewater (50%, 100%). The result of metal remediation was further confirmed by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) which reflected occurrence of different functional groups in selected consortia. Moreover, light intensity of 40 W/m2 induced neutral-lipid accumulation (1750 cm−1) in consortia-1 as depicted in FTIR spectra. The maximum active photosystem-II reaction center (79.75%), quantum yield (26.17%) and performance index (195.8%) revealed that light intensity (40 W/m2) and wastewater augmented functioning of photosystem-II in consortia-1 than consortia-2. Further, consortia-2 appeared more sensitive to oxidative stress as the concentration of oxidative stress markers (5.73–6.39 folds) was amplified after treatment with wastewater at light intensity of 40 W/m2. The prodigious tolerance potential towards different light intensities and wastewater concentration of consortia-1 may be attributed to increased activity of ascorbic acid (1.16 folds), proline (1.32 folds), cysteine (2.80 folds), superoxide dismutase (3.44 folds), catalase (2.52 folds) and glutathione reductase (1.90 folds). However, abundance of saturated fatty acid (41.34%) together with high cetane number (59.07) indicated that consortia 2 can produce excellent quality biofuel at 20 W/m2 while consortia-2 at 40 W/m2. Overall, consortia 1 appeared competent in terms of photosynthetic performance, remediation efficiency and antioxidant defense mechanism under 20 W/m2 and 40 W/m2 while consortia-2 showed quality biodiesel production at 20 W/m2. Thus, algal consortia based on photosynthetic performance and defense responses along with excellent biodiesel quality under different light intensity and wastewater concentration can serve as the promising biosystem for biomass and bioenergy production.

Riparian trees in mercury contaminated riverbanks: An important resource for sustainable remediation management

Mining operations generate sediment erosion rates above those of natural landscapes, causing persistent contamination of floodplains. Riparian vegetation in mine-impacted river catchments plays a key role in the storage/remobilization of metal contaminants. Mercury (Hg) pollution from mining is a global environmental challenge. This study provides an integrative assessment of Hg storage in riparian trees and soils along the Paglia River (Italy) which drains the abandoned Monte Amiata Hg mining district, the 3rd former Hg producer worldwide, to characterize their role as potential secondary Hg source to the atmosphere in case of wildfire or upon anthropic utilization as biomass. In riparian trees and nearby soils Hg ranged between 0.7 and 59.9 μg/kg and 2.2 and 52.8 mg/kg respectively. In trees Hg concentrations were below 100 μg/kg, a recommended Hg limit for the quality of solid biofuels. Commercially, Hg contents in trees have little impact on the value of the locally harvested biomass and pose no risk to human health, although higher values (195–738 μg/kg) were occasionally found. In case of wildfire, up to 1.4*10−3 kg Hg/ha could be released from trees and 27 kg Hg/ha from soil in the area, resulting in an environmentally significant Hg pollution source. Data constrained the contribution of riparian trees to the biogeochemical cycling of Hg highlighting their role in management and restoration plans of river catchments affected by not-remediable Hg contamination. In polluted river catchments worldwide riparian trees represent potential sustainable resources for the mitigation of dispersion of Hg in the ecosystem, considering i) their Hg storage capacity, ii) their potential to be used for local energy production (e.g. wood-chips) through the cultivation and harvesting of biomasses and, iii) their role in limiting soil erosion from riparian polluted riverbanks, probably representing the best pragmatic choice to minimize the transport of toxic elements to the sea.

Raman spectra soft modeling of the biodiesel oxidation through evolving factor analysis & multivariate curve resolution

The oxidative stability of biodiesel is defined by its relative resistance to the action of oxygen at room temperature. Its determination is an essential reference to the quality of biofuel and a significant parameter to be determined. This parameter concerns the quality of the biodiesel to be supplied to the consumer, and its determination is fundamental to maintaining the engine's proper functioning. Raman spectroscopy allows the rapid obtaining of structural information regarding biodiesel quality and, when aided by multivariate analysis methods, allows a quantitative determination of specific properties. This work uses Raman spectroscopy, Multivariate Curve Resolution with Alternative Least Squares (MCR-ALS) method, and Evolving Factor Analysis (EFA) to study biodiesel's oxidation kinetics. Also, the vibrational modes C = C, CH2, and CH3 were identified as the main structural groups involved in this process, corroborating previous studies. The MCR-ALS & EFA combination allowed modeling of the degradation kinetics following an A → B → C mechanism, where A corresponds to the biodiesel (starting material), B is related to the hydroperoxide mixture, and C is the final product. The results also suggested that this process follows a first-order reaction, with kinetic constant values of k1 = 0.0056 min−1 and k2 = 0.0031 min−1.

Biomass residues purification: elimination of oxygen from oxolane and its monomethylated derivatives through hydrodeoxygenation process

The persistent global demand of fossil fuels has spurred significant interest in the invention of new renewable energy sources to replace finite, non-renewable fossil fuels. Among these sustainable energy options, biomass stands out as a promising candidate as environment friendly alternative fuel. However, the organic compounds found in biomass contain a high oxygen content, leading to several undesirable characteristics in biofuels, including low energy density, less stability, high viscosity, and corrosion. Consequently, researchers have devised various upgrading techniques, with a particular emphasis on the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) process, to enhance the quality of biofuel. In this report, we investigated the treatment of Oxolane, 2-Methyloxolane and 3-Methyloxolane via adsorption and catalytic hydrogenolysis (HDL) processes. These processes aim to remove the oxygen heteroatom from these compounds, ultimately achieving the desired purity levels. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we employed the B3LYP/6–31G(d) and LanL2DZ/6–31G(d) methods of DFT for reaction without or with catalysts. The hydrogenolysis, in the presence and absence of a catalyst is carried at a temperature and pressure of 523 K and 40 bar, respectively. We meticulously analyzed the variations in geometries, thermodynamic and kinetic properties to gain insights into the whole processes. For each molecule, the sequence involves ring opening of C–O bond, followed by the elimination of a water molecule. The first hydrogenolysis step yields an alcohol as a reaction intermediate, while the second hydrogenolysis step results in the formation of an alkane. Geometric parameters showed the increased reactivity of Oxolane and its derivatives in the presence of tungsten disulphide (WS2) catalyst. Chemical potential indicates the charge transfer occurred in all, and the highest charge transfer is observed in Oxolane in the presence of tungsten disulphide (WS2) catalyst.

Chemical Composition of the Aboveground Tissues of Miscanthus × giganteus and Relationships to Soil Characteristics

To reduce the C footprint of human activities, there is a growing need for alternative energy sources including the production of bioenergy feedstocks. Miscanthus × giganteus is a high yielding grass with low environmental impact and high potential for feedstock use. Studying the composition of the aboveground tissues of Miscanthus is important for understanding feedstock quality for biofuel conversion and how crop residue quality may affect soil input management. Data on Miscanthus leaf and stem chemistry including carbon (C), nitrogen (N), macronutrient concentrations, and the optical characteristics of the water extractable organic matter (WEOM) was analyzed to identify differences in composition between aboveground tissues and modeled to identify soil variables that may be correlated with tissue chemistry. Leaves and stems were dominated by N, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg), but overall, the leaves contained higher nutrient concentrations compared to the stems. The leaves displayed elevated Si:K (0.0935) and Ca:K (0.445) ratios and lower C:N (36) and C:P (323) ratios compared to the stems (0.0560, 0.145, 150, and 645, respectively). Leaf WEOM contained large, aromatic, and complex structures, while the stem WEOM was dominated by small, recently produced structures. Varying relationships were found between tissue C and the mobile C pool in surface (0–15 cm) and deep (45–60 cm) soils. Overall, Miscanthus leaves had a chemical composition indicative of reduced biofuel quality compared to the stems. The relationships with soil mobile C suggest a dynamic linkage between Miscanthus physiology and this active soil C pool. These results have implications for crop nutrient allocation and nutrient management practices.

Bio-Oil Upgrading over ZSM-5 Catalyst: A Review of Catalyst Performance and Deactivation

Due to population explosion and industrialization, waste biomass and polymer conversion into biofuel has attracted the interest of researchers. The application of the ZSM-5 catalyst for bio-oil upgrading into renewable biofuels has attracted researchers’ efforts as an excellent catalyst. The need for improved biofuel quality with reduced oxygenates has further necessitated the application of catalyzed upgrading techniques. The catalytic performance of the ZSM-5 catalyst was attributed to its exceptional pore structure and window architecture and when it is incorporated with some selected transition metals to improve aromatic hydrocarbon formation. The review revealed that the development of coke deposit on the microspores of the ZSM-5 catalyst hindered the effective transport of large molecular compounds into the active sites for an easy deoxygenation process. Hence, the introduction of mesoporosity, hybrid catalyst development, and tailored crystal growth on the ZSM-5 catalyst could address several hindrances associated to conventional ZSM-5. Therefore, the need for catalyst modification is paramount for ZSM-5 performance during bio-oil upgrading.

The Influence of the Long-Term Outdoor Storage of Rockrose (Cistus laurifolius L.) Shrub Biomass on Biofuel's Quality, Pre-Treatment and Combustion Processes.

Biomass storage is an essential requirement in the supply chain of bio-refineries and power plants. This research aims to evaluate the influence of long-term outdoor storage (1 year) of baled rockrose (Cistus laurifolius L.) shrub biomass on biofuel's quality, pre-treatment processes and on combustion emissions in an industrial boiler. The raw material was obtained from different rockrose shrublands in north central Spain. A total of 233 tWM (tones of wet matter) of biomass were used to produce biofuels (30 mm of milled biomass and Ø 8 mm pellets) in the pre-treatment pilot plants at CEDER-CIEMAT. The combustion tests were conducted in an industrial moving grate boiler with a thermal power of 50 MWth, in a 17 MWe power plant. Outdoor storage improved some biofuel quality parameters, mainly the reduction in ash content, which allowed 30 mm of milled material to be classified as class I1 (ISO 17225-9:2022) and pellets as class I3 (ISO 17225-2-2021). No significant differences were observed in the total specific mass flow and energy consumption in the pre-treatment processes. The combustion tests had similar results, with the emissions being below the limits established in the directive (EU) 2015/2193. The results obtained indicated that the 1-year outdoor storage of rockrose-baled biomass, under Mediterranean conditions, was feasible for its subsequent use as biofuel.

Biological treatment of agro-processing industrial effluents from tannery, coffee and dairy plants using green algae (<i>Chlorella Ssp</i>.) cultured in a photo bioreactor

Due to increased environmental pollution as a result of high emission rates from agro-processing industries, the effluents must be cleaned up before being released into the environment. This study outlines the use of green algae for nutrient removal from agro-processing effluents discharged from three agro-industries (namely coffee, dairy, and tannery) in Kenya and how they can be used for the propagation of microalgae for biofuel production. Green algae were grown inside a photobioreactor containing the three agro-industrial effluents as nutrient media for 21 days. Thereafter, the algae were harvested and evaluated for biofuel production. The effectiveness of green algae (chlorella ssp) to extract the cations from the various agro-processing effluents was used to gauge how well they performed. Additionally, the algae growth rate, quantity of lipids, and biomass generated were used to evaluate the strains' effectiveness in producing biofuel. The results indicate that the highest maximum algae growth rate of 14.528 mg/mL occurred in the dairy effluent. The corresponding values for the coffee and tannery effluents were 13.016 mg/mL and 10.866 mg/mL, respectively. Biochemical analysis was done to establish the amount of biomass in the algae. The results showed that there was higher biomass productivity per day of 293.944, 124.849, and 91.997 μg/mL for the dairy, coffee, and tannery effluents, respectively. The contents of linolenic acid in the chlorella strain in the dairy, coffee, and tannery effluents were 13.21, 12.86, and 15.98%, respectively. The values obtained were slightly above the recommended lower limit value of 12% (EN 14214, 2004) for the production of quality biofuels. The results further show that high chemical oxygen demand removal (maximum of 47.7–67.8%) and total phosphorus removal (maximum of 95%) were achieved in all three effluents. Finally, the fatty acid methyl ester profiles produced indicated that the lipid content of the cultivated green algae was appropriate for the production of biofuel.

Development of Processes and Catalysts for Biomass to Hydrocarbons at Moderate Conditions: A Comprehensive Review.

This comprehensive review explores recent catalyst advancements for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of aromatic oxygenates derived from lignin, with a specific focus on the selective production of valuable aromatics under moderate reaction conditions. It addresses critical challenges in bio-crude oil upgrading, encompassing issues related to catalyst deactivation from coking, methods to mitigate deactivation, and techniques for catalyst regeneration. The study investigates various oxygenates found in bio-crude oil, such as phenol, guaiacol, anisole, and catechol, elucidating their conversion pathways during HDO. The review emphasizes the paramount importance of selectively generating arenes by directly cleaving C-O bonds while avoiding unwanted ring hydrogenation pathways. A comparative analysis of different bio-crude oil upgrading processes underscores the need to enhance biofuel quality for practical applications. Additionally, the review focuses on catalyst design for HDO. It compares six major catalyst categories, including metal sulfides, transition metals, metal phosphides, nitrides, carbides, and oxides, to provide insights for efficient bio-crude oil upgrading toward sustainable and eco-friendly energy alternatives.

Enhanced remediation of polyaromatic hydrocarbon using agro-industrial waste for biofuel production and environmental pollution mitigation.

In the present study, attention has been paid to the development of economically feasible strategies for enhanced remediation of anthracene and its conversion into biofuels. The strategies developed (B1, B2, B3, and B4) include bagasse and lipid-producing strain Rhodotorula mucilagenosa IIPL32 synthesizing surface active metabolites. The results indicate the highest production of surface-active metabolites in strategies B2, B3, and B4 along with a maximum biodegradation rate. GC-MS analysis affirmed the conversion of anthracene into phthalic acid in all the strategies. Biofuel quality of the lipid produced by the strain showed higher cetane number and improved cold flow property indicating the efficiency of the developed strategies for the production of commercial grade biodiesel. Furthermore, the phytotoxicity study of the spent wash revealed that 50% and 75% diluted spent wash were non-toxic and can be employed for ferti-irrigation. Thus, the study signifies the development of an economically feasible process that can be commercially employed in biofuel industries.

Enhancing deoxygenation of waste cooking palm oil over CaO-MgO catalyst modified by K2O for green bio-fuel

There are challenges to replacing traditional fossil fuels completely, so producing efficient green biofuels is crucial. In this work, waste cooking palm oil (WCPO) was used as raw material to produce biofuel through pyrolytic catalysis cracking (PCC) over alkaline catalysts as CaO-MgO with various dopants at 0, 3, 6 and 9 wt% K2O contents. The WCPO reacted under atmospheric pressure without purging gases at 500, 525 and 550 °C, respectively. Catalysts were characterized by various techniques in terms of physical and chemical properties. The pyrolytic oil (PO) was separated from the crude oil product. Then, PO was characterized by TGA/DTG, CHNO, FTIR and GC–MS. The PO was distilled following an ASTM D86 method. The properties of biofuels, such as density, kinematic viscosity and acidity, were measured. The basicity of the catalyst increased with increasing K2O contents. K2O not only enhanced the pyrolytic-liquid product yield but also significantly reduced the oxygenated compounds in biofuel through the deoxygenation process to improve biofuel quality. The different reaction temperatures were observed in which low-temperature reaction provided incompletely cracking heavy molecules, and more gas product occurred at the high reaction temperature. Surprisingly, the fatty acid compounds of WCPO were transferred to hydrocarbon compounds by deoxygenation reactions confirmed by GC–MS and FTIR results. The highest pyrolytic oil yield was approximately 92 vol% compared with crude oil product, obtained from 3 wt% K2O-MgO/CaO and 525 °C. The paraffinic and olefinic compounds were the main hydrocarbon products with K2O doping catalysts, while ketone compounds were found in all catalysts via the ketonic decarboxylation mechanism. In this condition, pyrolytic oil was completely distilled to get gasoline, kerosene and diesel. The kinematic viscosity and density were under ASTM standards except for acidity. Remarkably, the acidity of biofuel with K2O doping was reduced about 2–3 times compared to MgO/CaO alone.

Influence of Catalyst on the Yield and Quality of Bio-Oil for the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass: A Comprehensive Review

In the modern world, as the population rises and fossil fuel supplies decline, energy demands continue to rise. Moreover, the use of fossil fuels harms the ecology, contributing to pollution and global warming. In order to overcome these difficulties, several approaches are revealed, such as the utilization of biomass as a renewable source of energy. Studies revealed that biomass can be converted into bioenergy via several thermal conversion processes, like pyrolysis, gasification, and torrefaction. Pyrolysis is the most convenient process to obtain three different types of biofuels (biochar as a solid, bio-oil as a liquid, and syngas as a gas). The biofuels produced in this process are normally lower in quality and cannot be used directly as fuel because they contain many undesirable components. Catalytic pyrolysis is one of the best processes to upgrade the quality of biofuels. Several varieties of catalysts are used in the catalytic pyrolysis process (ex situ and in situ). Due to stable operating conditions, both catalytic and non-catalytic pyrolysis procedures produce biochar that has a consistent output. Meanwhile, the effects of catalysts in the catalytic pyrolysis process considerably enhance the quality and quantity of bio-oils and syngas. By removing the unwanted oxygenated and nitrogenous components, the bio-oils produced through the catalytic pyrolysis method have a higher calorific value, reduced viscosity, and improved stability. Many researchers have looked at ways to increase the rate of pyrolysis, whereas a few have focused on maximizing the effects of the factors in order to improve the efficiency of catalytic pyrolysis. This review addresses the impact of catalysts on the catalytic pyrolysis of biomass to enhance the quality of the bio-oils in great detail. Machine learning and techno-economic analysis were investigated, as well as the future potential of the catalytic pyrolysis method for the generation of bio-oil.

Effect of Thermal Overload Relay (TOR) as Overheating Protection on BSR-10 Type Biofuel Pelletizer Molding Machine

BSR-10 type biofuel pellet forming machine is widely used in renewable energy industry to produce high quality biofuel pellets. However, prolonged operation and heavy loads on these engines can cause their temperature to rise excessively and potentially damage the electric motors. To overcome this problem, this study aims to investigate the effect of using a Thermal Overload Relay (TOR) as a protection against overheating in a BSR-10 type biofuel pellet forming machine. This research involves measuring temperature and engine performance when operated with and without TOR. Motor temperature and engine ambient temperature are observed and recorded during normal operation and heavy load situations. In addition, engine performance in terms of rotational speed, energy consumption and pellet production were also evaluated with and without TOR. The results showed that the use of TOR significantly reduced the motor temperature in the BSR-10 type biofuel pellet forming machine. When given a heavy load, the engine that is protected by TOR shows a more stable and controlled temperature compared to the engine without TOR. In addition, TOR-equipped machines also show improvements in overall performance, including more stable rotational speeds, more efficient energy consumption and consistent pellet production. In conclusion, the use of Thermal Overload Relay (TOR) as protection against overheating in the BSR-10 type biofuel pellet forming machine is effective in controlling motor temperature, improving engine performance, and preventing damage caused by excess temperature. This research provides a better understanding of the use of TOR in the context of biofuel pelletizing machines and can provide useful guidance to the renewable energy industry in improving the operational efficiency and reliability of their machines..

Genetic variation for bioenergy traits within and among lowland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) crosses

Cellulosic biomass derived from switchgrass can be an alternative source to produce renewable bioenergy. However, bioenergy production from switchgrass is not economically viable unless genotypes with high yield potential and acceptable biofuel quality are available. To identify switchgrass genotypes with good biofuel quality, ten high biomass yielding hybrid populations derived from crosses between two lowland cultivars, Alamo (A) and Kanlow (K), were evaluated in this study. The experiment was planted in 2018 in two field environments, the East Tennessee Research and Education Center, Knoxville, and the Plateau Research and Education Center, Crossville, in a randomized complete block design with two replications per location. Tillers were collected in the Fall of 2020 and 2021, and analyzed for bioenergy traits using the near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy technique. The crosses and their parents were different in bioenergy traits across the environments (locations and years) (P ≤ 0.05). The crosses’ total ethanol yield (EtOH) ranged from 63.5 to 70.4 mg g−1, and the total sugars yield varied from 725 to 737 mg g−1 across the environments. Average cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and ash content were 395.8, 333.9, 178.4, and 49.3 mg g−1, respectively. The estimated non-structural carbohydrates were found as good predictors of EtOH (R2 = 0.67) (P ≤ 0.05). The cross, 12A-259 × 12K-247, exhibited high EtOH, high hemicellulose, low lignin, and low ash. Crosses 12A-261 × 12K-245 and 12A-263 × 12K-250 exhibited high cellulose and sugar. These results indicate significant genetic heterogeneity for bioenergy traits within and between these two lowland switchgrass cultivars.

Recent Advances of Triglyceride Catalytic Pyrolysis via Heterogenous Dolomite Catalyst for Upgrading Biofuel Quality: A Review.

This review provides the recent advances in triglyceride catalytic pyrolysis using heterogeneous dolomite catalysts for upgrading biofuel quality. The production of high-quality renewable biofuels through catalytic cracking pyrolysis has gained significant attention due to their high hydrocarbon and volatile matter content. Unlike conventional applications that require high operational costs, long process times, hazardous material pollution, and enormous energy demand, catalytic cracking pyrolysis has overcome these challenges. The use of CaO, MgO, and activated dolomite catalysts has greatly improved the yield and quality of biofuel, reducing the acid value of bio-oil. Modifications of the activated dolomite surface through bifunctional acid-base properties also positively influenced bio-oil production and quality. Dolomite catalysts have been found to be effective in catalyzing the pyrolysis of triglycerides, which are a major component of vegetable oils and animal fats, to produce biofuels. Recent advances in the field include the use of modified dolomite catalysts to improve the activity and selectivity of the catalytic pyrolysis process. Moreover, there is also research enhancement of the synthesis and modification of dolomite catalysts in improving the performance of biofuel yield conversion. Interestingly, this synergy contribution has significantly improved the physicochemical properties of the catalysts such as the structure, surface area, porosity, stability, and bifunctional acid-base properties, which contribute to the catalytic reaction's performance.