Catalytic cracking of palm oil over zeolite catalysts: Statistical approach

The catalytic cracking of palm oil was conducted in a fixed bed micro-reactor over HZSM-5, zeolite and ultrastable Y (USY) zeolite catalysts. The objective of the present investigation was to study the effect of cracking reaction variables such as temperature, weight hourly space velocity, catalyst pore size and type of palm oil feed of different molecular weight on the conversion, yield of hydrocarbons in gasoline boiling range and BTX aromatics in the organic liquid product. Statistical Design of Experiment (DOE) with 24 full factorial design was used in experimentation at the first stage. The nonlinear model and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were utilized in the second stage of experimentation to obtain the optimum values of the variables for maximum yields of hydrocarbons in gasoline boiling range and aromatics. The HZSM-5 showed the best performance amongst the three catalysts tested. At 623 K and WHSV of 1 h-1, the highest experimental yields of gasoline and aromatics were 28.3 wt.% and 27 wt.%, respectively over the HZSM-5 catalyst. For the same catalyst, the statistical model predicted that the optimum yield of gasoline was 28.1 wt.% at WHSV of 1.75 h-1 and 623 K. The predicted optimum yield of gasoline was 25.5 wt.% at 623 K and WHSV of 1 h-1

Pre-treatment of Malaysian agricultural wastes toward biofuel production

Various renewable energy technologies are under considerable interest due to the projected depletion of our primary sources of energy and global warming associated with their utilizations. One of the alternatives under focus is renewable fuels produced from agricultural wastes. Malaysia, being one of the largest producers of palm oil, generates abundant agricultural wastes such as fibers, shells, fronds, and trunks with the potential to be converted to biofuels. However, prior to conversion of these materials to useful products, pre-treatment of biomass is essential as it influences the energy utilization in the conversion process and feedstock quality. This chapter focuses on pre-treatment technology of palm-based agriculture waste prior to conversion to solid, liquid, and gas fuel. Pre-treatment methods can be classified into physical, thermal, biological, and chemicals or any combination of these methods. Selecting the most suitable pre-treatment method could be very challenging due to complexities of biomass properties. Physical treatment involves grinding and sieving of biomass into various particle sizes whereas thermal treatment consists of pyrolysis and torrefaction processes. Additionally biological and chemical treatment using enzymes and chemicals to derive lignin from biomass are also discussed

Experimental investigation on tar produced from palm shells derived syngas using zeolite HZSM-5 catalyst

The efficiency of the gas cleaning step is one of the fundamental steps to the successful operation of biomass gasification technologies for power generation. In the present study, catalytic cracking is selected as the hot gas cleaning technology using zeolite HZSM-5 catalyst in order to reduce tar produced from palm shells gasification in the laboratory scale fixed bed reactor. The experimental conditions for average biomass particle size, nitrogen flow rate and percentage of zeolite HZSM-5 catalyst are in the range of 1.18–7.13 mm, 3–7 L/min, and 2–10 wt% respectively with constant air flow rate of 5 L/min to the inlet of the reactor. From the gas chromatographic analysis of the tar produced from the gasification process, it is found that the phenol in the tar is in the range of 5–8 vol% when the oxygen to nitrogen flow rate ratio is varied from 0.10 to 0.15. A decreasing trend in the phenol concentration is observed when oxygen to nitrogen ratio is increased. The overall oxygenated aromatic compounds in the tar content are comparable when operating with oxygen to nitrogen ratio of 0.12 and 0.15. The lowest concentration of phenol is achieved when 5 wt% of zeolite HZSM-5 catalyst is used with a reduction of 99% and 79% for oxygen to nitrogen ratio of 0.10 or 0.15 respectively when compared to the phenol concentration with the absence of the catalyst. Furthermore, higher percentage of the catalyst results in less chemical compounds found in tar. Tar content increased as lower concentration of oxygen content in gas mixture or larger palm shells particle size is used

Catalytic Cracking of Palm Oil Over Zeolite Catalysts: Statistical Approach

The catalytic cracking of palm oil was conducted in a fixed bed micro-reactor over HZSM-5, zeolite ? and ultrastable Y (USY) zeolite catalysts. The objective of the present investigation was to study the effect of cracking reaction variables such as temperature, weight hourly space velocity, catalyst pore size and type of palm oil feed of different molecular weight on the conversion, yield of hydrocarbons in gasoline boiling range and BTX aromatics in the organic liquid product.  Statistical Design of Experiment (DOE) with 24 full factorial design was used in experimentation at the first stage.  The nonlinear model and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were utilized in the second stage of experimentation to obtain the optimum values of the variables for maximum yields of hydrocarbons in gasoline boiling range and aromatics.  The HZSM-5 showed the best performance amongst the three catalysts tested.  At 623 K and WHSV of 1 h-1, the highest experimental yields of gasoline and aromatics were 28.3 wt.% and 27 wt.%, respectively over the HZSM-5 catalyst.  For the same catalyst, the statistical model predicted that the optimum yield of gasoline was 28.1 wt.% at WHSV of 1.75 h-1 and 623 K.  The predicted optimum yield of gasoline was 25.5 wt.% at 623 K and WHSV of 1 h-1. KEY WORDS: Catalytic Cracking, Palm Oil, Zeolite, Design Of Experiment, Response Surface Methodology