Renewable Hydrocarbon Research Articles

Experimental Study on the Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 by Fe2O3/BiOIO3 Composite Photocatalyst

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to produce renewable hydrocarbon fuels is of great significance for solving the greenhouse effect and energy crisis. However, due to some shortcomings of the photocatalyst itself, further research is needed to realize its industrial application. In this article, we prepared Fe2O3/BiOIO3 composite photocatalyst by a simple one-step hydrothermal method, and discussed the photocatalytic activity and reaction mechanism of Fe2O3/BiOIO3 composite photocatalyst through a series of characterization and photocatalytic reduction experiments. The band gap energy of the composite photocatalyst (2.32 ev) is smaller than that of pure BiOIO3 (2.98 ev), so the composite photocatalyst can absorb visible light. Since the edge of the conduction band of BiOIO3 is more positive than the edge of the Fe2O3 conduction band, the photogenerated electrons in the Fe2O3 conduction band can be transferred to the BiOIO3 conduction band, which makes BiOIO3 more reducible and can reduce CO2 to CO. This study can provide some reference for the field of photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide.

Synthesis of Petroleum Pitch-Based Graphene Oxide/Tungsten Trioxide Nanorod and Study On Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2

Petroleum pitch-based graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by using petroleum pitch as carbon source, and GO/WO3 composite catalyst was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. At the same time, the performance of GO/WO3 photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to produce renewable hydrocarbon fuel was studied. The results showed that the introduction of GO promoted the absorption of visible light, enhanced the adsorption performance of CO2 in the catalyst surface, improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron hole pairs and made the protons produced by water decomposition more involved in the reduction reaction of CO2, thus greatly enhancing the efficiency of CO produced by Photocatalytic reduction of CO2. The yields of CO and H2 were 151.8[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mol[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] cat[Formula: see text] h[Formula: see text] and 46.3[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mol[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] cat[Formula: see text] h[Formula: see text], which were about three times and two times of pure WO3 under the same conditions.

Engineering of zeolite crystals for catalytic cracking of triglycerides to renewable hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals: a review

The depletion of petroleum reserves along with environmental concerns associated with the use of fossil fuels has driven the search for sustainable sources of fuels and chemicals. In this context, catalytic cracking of triglycerides represents a promising alternative to produce renewable hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. Zeolite catalysts have played a key role in the catalytic cracking process for years. The shift from fossil to biogenic resources has stimulated immense efforts over the last decades to obtain novel classes of zeolite catalysts with tailored properties for efficient upgrading of triglycerides. The present paper aims to provide a comprehensive review on catalytic cracking of triglycerides over zeolite catalysts with the focus on major achievements in engineering of zeolite crystals for being adapted with triglyceride-based oils. Hence, a brief overview of catalytic cracking of triglycerides was first presented to provide relevant background. Engineering of zeolite crystals by shortening diffusion path lengths and incorporating heteroatoms for catalytic cracking of triglycerides was then discussed along prominent examples from the literature. Several directions for future research to advance zeolite catalysts for efficient upgrading of triglycerides to renewable hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals were finally given.

Renewable source hydrocarbons obtaining from microalgae by catalytic deoxygenation

In line with global demand for greenhouse gas reduction, the aviation industry has invested in biofuels development. A source feedstock that deserves special mention for this process is microalgae, because of its cultivation of renewable biomass with high yields, low cost, and high CO2 sequestering potential. This research aimed the study of microalgae culture with hard potential for biofuel production and its obtaining through catalytic deoxygenation to renewable source hydrocarbons in C12–C18 range. Thus, the oils of the Scenedesmus acuminatus and Cosmarium sp. species were cultivated and identified. Scenedesmus acuminatus oil is the majority composition of palmitic acid (C16:0) and has a higher production and yield than Cosmarium sp. oil. Scenedesmus acuminatus oil was then submitted to catalytic deoxygenation by the semi-batch reaction using the 5% Pd/C catalyst. The obtained results showed a selectivity of 82.9% and n-alkane yielding of 36.6%, placing the specie as potential biojet fuel precursor.

The future of Sustainable Biofuels towards the 2°C target: forecasting process, technologies and sector demands

Introducing sustainable fuels in the different transport fields in the EU is a very challenging goal, but also a clear priority in the EU decarbonization strategy. In fact, the transport sector is extremely rigid and regulated, with consolidated norms and standards and well-defined economics. Adding more oxygenated components to the fuel mix is also limited by the so-called blend-wall: thus, the share of renewable drop-in hydrocarbons has been recently growing worldwide and in the European Union. However, as a large part of these relates to lipids, the supply of sustainable feedstock has become the major critical element of the value chain. Fast-growing demand from new sectors as Aviation also emerged, that together with Heavy Duty and Maritime represent the focus of the EC strategy, complementary to the electrification of the road transport, passenger cars and light duty vehicles. Introducing innovative processes at full commercial scale requires to overcome the Mountain of Death of processes, where the bankability of not yet demonstrated technologies is the core problem. This work addresses the impact of the EU policy scenario, depicting the status of the different process and technologies, both Bio-based and Recycled Carbon, on the Mountain of Death.

Catalytic pyrolysis (Ni/Al-MCM-41) of palm (Elaeis guineensis) oil to obtain renewable hydrocarbons.

The present work aims to evaluate the potential of Al-MCM-41 and Ni/Al-MCM-41 catalysts for the production of renewable hydrocarbons through the fast pyrolysis of palm oil. Al-MCM-41 mesoporous material was synthesized by the hydrothermal route. The Ni/Al-MCM-41 catalyst was obtained by the wet impregnation method of the Al-MCM-41 material (support) previously synthesized with 2.3% metal in relation to the support mass. The thermal pyrolysis of palm oil yielded many oxygenated compounds with a very high molecular mass. The pyrolysis of the oil under the action of Al-MCM-41 presented greater selectivity when compared to thermal pyrolysis, obtaining 63% of hydrocarbons in the C11–C15 region. The catalytic pyrolysis of the oil with Ni/Al-MCM-41 showed a high deoxygenation rate, obtaining a hydrocarbon percentage equal to 78%, in addition to obtaining a percentage of hydrocarbons equal to 46% in the region of interest, viz., C11–C15, demonstrating the potential of the Ni/Al-MCM-41 catalyst for renewable hydrocarbons production (bio-jet fuel) from palm oil.

Competitive adsorption of phenol and toluene onto silica-supported transition metal clusters for biofuel purification

Biomass-based renewable hydrocarbon fuel is a complex mix that contains many oxygenating substances, in particular phenolics, which leads to adverse consequences such as reduced engine energy performance and increased toxic gas emissions.

Hydrocracking process of coconut oil using Ni-Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst for hydrocarbon biofuel production

Renewable hydrocarbon biofuel was produced by hydrocracking of coconut oil using a bifunctional catalyst. Hydrocarbon biofuel is promising for production of future fuels from vegetable oil. The advantage of the hydrocracking is the formation of hydrocarbon biofuel products at the conventional fuel range. The purpose of this work is to produce hydrocarbon biofuel by hydrocracking of coconut oil using the catalyst of Ni-Zn/HZSM-5. The processes of hydrocracking processes were performed in a vessel reactor by stirring with magnetically at 350 °C and the reaction pressure of 15 bar for 2 h under flowing H2 with Ni-Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst. The effect of Ni-Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst was evaluated by determining the composition of products (hydrocarbon biofuel). The hydrocarbon biofuel was determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS results of hydrocarbon biofuel show the aliphatic compounds in the range C12-C22. The presence of C17-C18 in the hydrocarbon biofuel was relatively low. Hydrocarbon biofuel composition consists of 0.11 cycloparaffins, 5.33 normal paraffins, 7.85 olefin, and 0.08 aromatics based on area%. The total amount of detected oxygenated compounds was 86.63 area% carboxylic acid. These compounds are responsible for the low quality of the hydrocarbon biofuel. However, the reaction must be carried out at above 350 °C to eliminate the oxygenated compounds in the hydrocarbon biofuel, as an important step to replace non-renewable fossil fuels.

Efficient Production of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels Using Waste CO2 and Green H2 by Integrating Fe-Based Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis and Olefin Oligomerization

Efficient Production of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels Using Waste CO2 and Green H2 by Integrating Fe-Based Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis and Olefin Oligomerization

Production of renewable hydrocarbons from vegetable oil refining by-product/waste soapstock over selective sulfur-free high metal loading SiO2–Al2O3 supported Ni catalyst via hydrotreatment

The performance, selectivity, recovery, and reusability of high metal loading commercial Ni66 ± 5%/SiO2–Al2O3 catalyst were studied in renewable hydrocarbon synthesis from low cost raw material pretreated soapstock (TS) by solvent-free one-pot hydrotreatment (HT). TS was extracted from rapeseed oil chemical refining by-product/waste soapstock (SS) by developed simple treatment method. The catalyst was characterized by FE-SEM, TEM, XRF, XRD, and N2 sorption analysis. Feedstock, liquid, and gaseous products were analyzed by FT-IR, GC-FID, GC-MS, GC-TCD, and CHNS elemental analysis. The effect of initial H2 pressure (2–8 MPa), catalyst amount (3–9%), reaction temperature (280–340 °C), and residence time (15–60 min) on hydrocarbon production were investigated. Combustible gases and pure marketable linear saturated hydrocarbons with high yield 79.1%, calorific value 47.22 MJ/kg, C/H ratio 5.6, and n-C17 content 82.7% were successfully produced from TS using minimum effective catalyst amount and reaction conditions: 5%, 6 MPa, 320 °C, and 30 min.

Well-Designed 3D/2D/2D WO3/Bt/g-C3N4 Z-Scheme Heterojunction for Tailoring Photocatalytic CO2 Methanation with 2D-Layered Bentonite-Clay as the Electron Moderator under Visible Light

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to renewable hydrocarbon fuels is a promising strategy to address global energy issues; however, producing fuels like CH4 is highly challenging under visible light. In this work, fabrication of a two-dimensional bentonite (2D-Bt) nanosheet mediated WO3/g-C3N4 Z-scheme heterojunction for highly selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CH4 under visible light has been investigated. The photocatalytic performance of the newly developed WO3-embedded 2D pillared Bt with 2D g-C3N4 composite for selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction to methane was studied using H2O as the reducing agent under visible light. WO3/Bt/g-C3N4 (WBCN) exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity for CH4 production, which was 6.01, 6.76, and 25.30 times higher than using WO3/g-C3N4, Bt/g-C3N4, and g-C3N4 samples, respectively. Noticeably, WO3-coupled with g-C3N4 was favorable for CO production; however, introducing Bt layered clay was in favor of methane formation during the CO2 reduction process. Additionally, the Z-scheme of the WO3/g-C3N4 composite with Bt as the electron moderator could promote photoinduced charge separation and redox ability of the separated charge carriers, resulting in excellent CO2 reduction to CH4. The rate of reaction was dependent only on the external mass transfer due to surface reactions over the WBCN composite catalyst. With increasing photon flux, methane production was further enhanced due to the thermodynamically favorable process for the activation of CO2 methanation reaction. Besides, good cycling ability was observed due to the presence of a layered clay structure, which was sustained in multiple cycles without obvious deactivation. This study provides a green clay based noble-metal-free approach to construct a structured composite photocatalyst with a Z-scheme charge carrier and would be beneficial for CO2 reduction and other solar energy applications.

A Z-scheme Cu2O/WO3 heterojunction for production of renewable hydrocarbon fuel from carbon dioxide

Utilization of a green-house gas CO2 has a vital scope in the energy and synthesis of bulk chemicals. However, CO2 has the limitations in synthetic chemistry because of the thermodynamic stability and un-reactivity of the CO2 molecule. The combination of the copper and tungsten oxides established the interaction between them. It demonstrated in the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images of Cu/W heterojunction formed, which proved as an efficient catalytic system to reduce carbon dioxide into a high yield of the renewable hydrocarbon fuel under visible-irradiation. The doping of 15 wt% of copper (II) oxide on tungsten oxide performed the best amongst all the synthesized photocatalysts, which improved the harvesting of visible light as well as enhanced the efficiency for CO2 reduction under the reaction conditions. The improved photocatalytic activity of the heterojunction was caused by enhancement in separation and transfer of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs at the interface between copper and tungsten heterojunction investigated by the photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Also, the activity of the heterojunction retained up to several runs of reaction without the marginal leaching of copper content.

Selective CO2 Photoconversion on Low-Coordinate TiO2

The selective conversion of CO2 into desired hydrocarbon products remains a challenge in photocatalysis. In this issue of Chem, Feng and colleagues report a strong-magnetic-field-assisted strategy for forming active low-coordinate (100) facets on TiO2 nanotubes, enabling selective photoconversion of CO2 into the C2 product C2H5OH under visible light.

Synthesis of renewable hydrocarbons from vegetable oil feedstock by hydrotreatment over selective sulfur-free SiO2-Al2O3 supported monometallic Pd, Pt, Ru, Ni, Mo and bimetallic NiMo catalysts

Screening tests of commercial and prepared monometallic Ni, Mo, Pd, Pt, Ru and bimetallic NiMo catalysts synthesized by four different impregnation methods were performed to evaluate their selectivity and performance on hydrocarbon production from vegetable oil feedstock with high free fatty acid (FFA) content (~50%) by solvent-free hydrotreatment (HT). Catalysts were characterized by N2 sorption analysis, XRF, XRD, FE-SEM and TEM. Composition of feedstock and liquid, gaseous products were analyzed by C, H, N, S elemental analysis, FT-IR, GC-FID, GC–MS and GC-TCD. Mo promoted Ni17Mo3DP synthesized using developed one-pot deposition–precipitation procedure exhibits great performance, selectivity to n-C18 and 6–7% higher hydrocarbon yield (~87%) than elevated metal loading (≥65%) commercial Ni65C and Ni66C catalysts achieved at relatively mild reaction temperature 320–340 °C and initial H2 pressure 6–10 MPa. Completely different selectivity of highly active Ru, Ni and NiMo catalysts can be beneficial for wide molecular weight marketable renewable hydrocarbon production from fatty acid containing raw materials.

A novel production route and process optimization of biomass-derived paraffin wax for pharmaceutical application

The Biomass to Liquid (BtL) Fischer-Tropsch (FT) route converts lignocellulosic feedstock to renewable hydrocarbons. This, paper shows a novel production route for biomass-derived synthetic paraffin wax via gasification of lignocellulosic feedstock, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) and hydrofining. The Fischer-Tropsch wax was fractionated, refined and analyzed with respect to compliance to commercial standards. The fractioned paraffin waxes were hydrofined using a commercial sulfide NiMo–Al2O3 catalyst and a trickle bed reactor. A parametric variation was performed to optimize the hydrofining process. It was shown that the produced medium-melt paraffin wax could fulfill the requirements for “Paraffinum solidum” defined by the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur). The high-melt wax fraction showed potential to be used as food packaging additive. Furthermore, the renewable wax was analyzed regarding PAH content and it was shown that the hydrofined wax was quasi-PAH-free.

Business Roundup

BUSINESS Business Roundup ShareShare onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail C&EN, 2020, 98 (33), p 13August 31, 2020Cite this:C&EN 98, 33, 13Abstractwill build a gasoline additive blending plant by the end of 2021 at its site in Singapore, where it produces petroleum additives. Afton says it has already invested close to $300 million at the site. has picked Green Bay, Wisconsin, as the site for its first US plant for Expancel brand expandable microspheres, used in lightweight coatings and other products. Nouryon disclosed plans last year for a US facility to complement ones in Sweden, Brazil, and China. has signed an agreement to supply renewable hydrocarbon fuels to a unit of Trafigura, a leading commodity trading firm. Gevo says the deal brings to over $1.5 billion its contracts for the biobased fuels it is developing in Luverne, Minnesota. , one of C&EN’s 10 Start-Ups to Watch in 2015, has been granted regulatory approval in Brazil for its first product, a pheromone spray to control fall armyworm, a major corn and riceView: PDF | Full Text HTML

Ni-Bi co-doped TiO2 as highly visible light response nano-photocatalyst for CO2 photo-reduction in a batch photo-reactor

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 is considered as a promising strategy for production of a wide range of renewable hydrocarbon fuels by solar energy. In this investigation, a series of Ni and Bi doped TiO2 catalysts with different Ni and Bi contents were synthesized by the conventional sol-gel method and tested for CO2 photo-reduction under visible light irradiation. Synthesized nano-photo-catalysts were characterized by XRD, FESEM, TEM, DRS, PL, FTIR and BET analyses. BET results indicated that the doping of Ni or/and Bi in the TiO2 framework resulted in BET specific surface area increment with respect to pure TiO2. DRS analysis showed that Ni doped TiO₂, Bi doped TiO2, and co-doped samples had narrower band gap energy and consequently considerably higher light absorption in the visible region compared with pure TiO₂. Doping Ni and Bi in TiO2 suppressed the rate of electron-hole recombination as indicated by PL spectra. CO2 adsorption capacity were increased in presence of Bi ions in comparison with pure TiO2 and Ni doped sample as a result of reactant adsorption increase on the surface of catalyst. The yield of methane considerably increased in the presence of Ni and Bi doped samples. The highest methane production (21.13 μmol/gcat) was obtained for 1 wt% Ni–3 wt% Bi co-doped TiO₂, which was almost 6.5 times greater than that for pure TiO2.

Storage plants – a solution to the residual load challenge of the power sector?

We formulate the concept of a multi-functional energy system, called storage plant, as a possible solution to cover the variable residual load that appears in most countries after introducing renewables in the power sector. A storage plant consists of a photovoltaic power plant, a heat storage system with electric heater to transform solar power, a steam power cycle to convert stored heat to dispatchable power, a backup heating unit for the storage based on the combustion of biomass or other renewable hydrocarbons, and a gas turbine with waste heat recovery for peak loads. After explaining the storage plant concept, the paper describes a simulation model of the German power sector and its transformation from the year 2020 with roughly 40% renewable electricity share to 2040 with a hypothetic 90% renewable electricity share. Multi-indicator benchmarking over that period shows that storage plants can have a key role to achieve emission goals and at the same time sustain full supply security within the German power sector.

Utilization of renewable sources of biogas for small-scale production of liquid fuels

Low energy density in agricultural or biotechnological raw materials dictates the need for their local processing. Small-scale agricultural products or waste processing plants can`t profitably use technologies common in large-scale petrochemistry, including the complex and expensive process of steam reforming of biogas into syngas for its subsequent conversion to liquid fuel. The work suggests using small-scale sources of inexpensive and easily obtained biogas and other renewable hydrocarbon gases for the production of liquid biofuel by their air conversion in recently developed matrix reformers into low-cost nitrogen-rich syngas, followed by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in a cascade of sequential reactors. Autothermal matrix reformers are very compact, simple in design, have several times more specific volume capacity than traditional technologies, and allow processing biogas with a high concentration of CO2. The advantages of low-cost conversion of biogas to liquid fuel based on nitrogen- enriched syngas with subsequent Fischer-Tropsch synthesis are discussed.

Suitability of energy sources for automotive application – A review

The suitability of an energy source for automotive application is determined by its gravimetric and volumetric energy density, portability, and safety characteristics. Hydrocarbon fuels predominate the energy resource in transportation sector mainly because of the favorable energy density and easiness for fuel handling, storage and transportation. The alternative energy sources have started to play an important role because they have a lower carbon footprint and the potential to decrease the reliance on the fossil fuels. Among the leading contenders, batteries and fuel cells draw the most attention in recent years because of their potential towards renewable mobility. In this paper, the energy density of various energy sources is reviewed, and its effect on the payload and driving range of the vehicles is discussed. The specific energy of hydrocarbon fuels (from fossil fuels to renewable fuels), fuel cells and batteries (from theoretical value to packaged value) is compared. The evolution of the energy density of the batteries is also investigated and the challenges towards the further enhancement of the battery energy density are presented. Present application status of the three energy sources is summarized, and the suitable energy source for various transportation sectors is suggested. Finally, the present status of hybrid vehicles and renewable hydrocarbon fuels with lower carbon footprint is discussed, which shows promise to overcome the environmental impact without sacrificing overall vehicle performances.