Storage Stability of Gas Oils Containing Waste Originated Biocomponent

Nowadays in Europe the demand for diesel fuel is continuously growing, while the demand for gasoline decreases slightly. Currently, the biodiesel is the biofuel which is blended into the gas oil with the highest amount in case of Diesel engines, which can be produced from different, even waste-derived triglycerides (with transesterification with alcohol). Due to the adverse properties of biodiesel the storage stability of biodiesel/diesel blends has to be examined in detail.In our experimental work we investigated the changes in the qualities of biodiesels produced from vegetable oil which contained various waste cooking oil (waste-derived component) share (10, 30, 50%), and its 7 and 10% blends with gas oil in case of long-term (more than 130 weeks) storage. We found that with increasing the proportion of used cooking oil in the vegetable oil used as raw material for biodiesel, the oxidation reactions took place in a greater degree. Biodiesel made from vegetable oils containing 10% used cooking oil was the most applicable for blending; in case of using higher proportion it is very necessary to use a further amount of antioxidant additives to minimize the degradation

Investigation of catalytic conversion of Fischer-Tropsch wax on Pt/ALSBA-15 and Pt/beta zeolite catalysts

Because of the more serious problems with the environment (e.g. greenhouse effect) and the crude oil supply (e.g. import dependence) the use of fuels and lubricants produced from renewable feedstocks have come to the front nowadays. The Fischer-Tropsch wax (60–80% of the Fischer-Tropsch products) which is produced on synthesis gas from different sources (biological or waste), is a mixture of high molecular weight (C20-C60) n-paraffins, which are in solid state (high pour point) at normal conditions. The products (fuels and base oils) which can be produced from this paraffin mixture have high quality and have fewer negative effects on the environment (practically zero sulphur- and nitrogen content, low aromatic content, excellent application properties) thus they do not demand changes in the fuel supply infrastructure and in the engine constructions. The isomerization of high molecular weight n-paraffins can be effectively carried out on bifunctional catalysts. There are only a few indications about the application of metal catalysts on mesoporous carrier in the literature. Consequently our objective was to investigate some Pt/AlSBA-15 (SBA: Santa Barbara Amorphous) catalysts which have not been investigated in detail in this reaction system yet, and compare its properties with a Pt/beta zeolite catalyst which has been recommended for this reaction earlier. The applicability and catalytic activity of Pt/AlSBA-15 and Pt/beta zeolite catalysts of 0.5% platinum content for the selective isomerization of Fischer-Tropsch wax was investigated in the present experiment. The experiments were carried out in a high-pressure microreactor system in continuous operation and on a catalyst with steady-state activity. The main properties of the feedstock which was a mixture of paraffin produced by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (the synthesis gas was produced from biomass) were: n-paraffin content (C18-C57): 97.4%, sulphur content: <5 mg/kg, pour point: 72 °C. In the experiment the following process parameters were applied: T = 275–375 °C, P = 40–80 bar, LHSV = 1.0–3.0 h-1, H2/hydrocarbon ratio: 400–800 Nm3 /m3 . The composition of the products was determined by gas chromatography. From the catalysts with different support the best results were gained on the catalysts with AlSBA-15 support, and with increasing temperature the yield of liquid products (C5+) decreased, but until 325 °C this value was above 93% in every case. In case of the beta zeolite high amount of cracking took place. Increasing the pressure shifted back the hydrocracking reactions (with the increasing number of moles) so it had a decreasing effect on the volume of the gas products and the lower contact time (higher liquid hour space velocity) had the same effect. In the gas products mainly branched isobutane was identified, which indicated that the cracking enacted partly after the isomerization reactions. The isoparaffin contents of the liquid products in the function of process parameters increased with increasing temperature and decreased with increasing pressure and LHSV in every case while other parameters were kept constant. Based on the isoparaffin contents of the different fractions it can be concluded that on Pt/AlSBA-15 catalyst at advantageous process parameter combinations (T = 300–325 °C (C11-C20)/ 275–300 °C (C21-C30), P = 40–80 bar, LHSV = 1.0–2.0 h-1) the catalyst was applicable to produce C11-C20 and C21-C30 fractions with high isoparaffin content (63.5–85.6% and 34.1–58.7%) with adequate yields (29.9–36.6% and 46.2–58.8%). We experienced that the gas oil fractions having the lowest pour point were obtained in the case of high concentrations of 5-methyl isomers. The C21-C30 fraction is a high viscosity index (VI ≥ 125) base oil. The selectivity of the target product fractions was high, and based on these facts the selective isomerization of the Fischer-Tropsch wax can be a new application area of the Pt/AlSBA-15 catalys

Investigation of storage stability of biodiesels

The production and application of fuels from agricultural origin have emerged into focus in the last couple of years. A number of environmental, political and economical factors has confirmed and strengthened this process. The main reason of this tendency is the energy policy of the European Union, namely to reduce the green house gas emission of fuels, to decrease the significant dependence of EU on import energy and crude oil and to support rural development. To achieve these objectives, the European Union created the 2003/30/EC and 2009/28/EC directives, which regulate the application of biomass derived fuels. The main purpose is to promote the use of biofuels in transportation by recommending and specifying the share of the bio-components. This proposed value (10 energy % share of biofuels in the transport sector by 2020 in the EU) can be reached by the conversion of different triglyceride-containing biofeedstocks (e.g. vegetable oils, used frying oils, animal fats, algae oils, brown grease, etc.) to different biofuels or blending components. Nowadays FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters), called as first generation biofuel, is mostly used as diesel bio blending component. But this biofuels due to its chemical structure the presence of the double bond in the molecule have a high reactivity with the oxygen, especially when it placed contacting air. That is why the long term storage stability of biodiesel is an important issue. The aim of our research work was to investigate the long term storage stability of biodiesel samples originated from different feedstock. The effects of the real storage conditions on the properties (induction period, acid value, iodine value, density, water content and kinematic viscosity) of the different biodiesels were investigated. Results showed that the acid number and the water content increased, while the induction period and the iodine number decreased with increasing storage time of biodiesel samples

Investigation of producing modern base oils

Modern lube oils are prepared from base oils (base oil mixtures) and additives. The allotted quality parameters and the proper application properties are assured by the harmonical integration of these components. Some key lube oil properties depend on the quality of the base oil. For example a new demand has raised in the area of engine oils in the last couple of years: the demand is to contribute to the lower emission of the vehicles. This means the development of engine oils with low sulphated ash, low metal, sulphur and phosphorous content (“low SAPS” engine oils). In order to reach the adequate properties, the base oil (which is the main component of the engine oils) has to be produced with modern and advanced processes. The conventional base oil production line has its own disadvantages and limitations, so the catalytic processes were spread to enhance the viscosity index and to reduce the pour point of the base oils. It was necessary to develop and apply base oil production processes and technologies which are flexible to the crude oil quality and can produce environmentally friendly base oils with high viscosity index. To reach these goals the most adequate technologies are the catalytic base oil production processes. In the experimental section of this paper the results of hydroisomerization of wax from Hungarian crude oil on Pt/zeolite/Al2O3 catalyst are presented. Based on our experiments we established that with hydroisomerization base oils with very high or extra high viscosity index and low pour point can be produced from high molecular weight paraffinic hydrocarbon mixture. These base oils with low sulphur and aromatic content are appropriate, for example to produce energy efficient and environmentally friendly engine oils