eng
Alpha Creation Enterprise
Biofuel Research Journal
2292-8782
2020-03-01
7
1
1100
1108
10.18331/BRJ2020.7.1.2
103972
Kinetic studies on the synthesis of fuel additives from glycerol using CeO2–ZrO2 metal oxide catalyst
Rajeswari M. Kulkarni
rmkulkarni@msrit.edu
1
Pradima J. Britto
2
Archna Narula
archna_71@yahoo.com
3
Syed Saqline
syedsaqlin@gmail.com
4
Deeksha Anand
deekshaanand04@gmail.com
5
C. Bhagyalakshmi
6
R. Nidhi Herle
7
Department of Chemical Engineering, M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, MSRIT Post, Bangalore-560054, Karnataka, India.
Department of Chemical Engineering, M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, MSRIT Post, Bangalore-560054, Karnataka, India.
Department of Chemical Engineering, M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, MSRIT Post, Bangalore-560054, Karnataka, India.
Department of Chemical Engineering, M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, MSRIT Post, Bangalore-560054, Karnataka, India.
Department of Chemical Engineering, M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, MSRIT Post, Bangalore-560054, Karnataka, India.
Department of Chemical Engineering, M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, MSRIT Post, Bangalore-560054, Karnataka, India.
Department of Chemical Engineering, M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, MSRIT Post, Bangalore-560054, Karnataka, India.
Highly stable and active CeO2-ZrO2 metal oxide catalyst was synthesized via the combustion method and was further functionalized with sulphate (SO42-) groups. The morphology, surface functionalities, and composition of the metal oxide catalyst were determined by scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption and desorption measurement, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The synthesized catalyst was used for esterification of glycerol with acetic acid. Effects of the process parameters including acetic acid to glycerol molar ratios (3-20), catalyst loadings (1-9 wt.%) and reaction temperatures (70–110°C) on the glycerol conversion and glycerol acetates selectivity were studied. Excellent catalytic activity was observed by using the sulphated metal oxide catalyst resulting in a glycerol conversion as high as 99.12%. The selectivity towards the di and triacetin (fuel additive) formed stood at 57.28% and 21.26% respectively. The reaction rate constants and activation energies were also estimated using a Quasi-Newton algorithm, namely Broyden’s method and Arrhenius equations at 80-110℃. The calculated values were in accordance with the experimental values which confirmed the model. Finally, the developed catalyst could be reused for three consecutive cycle without major loss of its activity. Overall, the findings presented here could be instrumental to drive future research and commercialization efforts directed toward biodiesel glycerol valorisation into fuel additives.
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_103972_1bdd9159cd851527bf28e888bad1e983.pdf
Biodiesel
Glycerol
Fuel additive
Acetins
Mixed oxide catalyst
Kinetic Model
eng
Alpha Creation Enterprise
Biofuel Research Journal
2292-8782
2020-03-01
7
1
1109
1114
10.18331/BRJ2020.7.1.3
103971
Selective evaporation of a butanol/water droplet by microwave irradiation, a step toward economizing biobutanol production
Yosuke Shibata
younpc.sorairo@gmail.com
1
Kenya Tanaka
taits.htky.24@gmail.com
2
Yusuke Asakuma
asakuma@eng.u-hyogo.ac.jp
3
Cuong V. Nguyen
4
Son A. Hoang
5
Chi M. Phan
c.phan@curtin.edu.au
6
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Hyogo, 2167 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo 671-2280, Japan.
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Hyogo, 2167 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo 671-2280, Japan.
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Hyogo, 2167 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo 671-2280, Japan.
Discipline of Chemical Engineering and Curtin Institute of Functional Molecules and Interfaces, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Cau Giay, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
Discipline of Chemical Engineering and Curtin Institute of Functional Molecules and Interfaces, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
The separation step is a constraint in biobutanol production, due to high energy consumption of the current techniques. This study explores a new separation method via applying microwave irradiation. Butanol/water droplet was monitored during exposure to microwave irradiation at different power rates. The surface tension, droplet volume, and temperature were scrutinized during and after exposure to microwave irradiation. The data obtained indicated that the microwave-induced evaporation rates of alcohols were much higher than that of water. Consequently, the vaporized phase contained a much higher alcohol content than the liquid phase. In particular, butanol concentration in the aqueous phase could be reduced to ~ 0.1 wt.%, which was more effective than the theoretical limit via the boiling process. The method is an attractive option to complement the fermentation process, which produces a low butanol concentration solution. This development could potentially lead to a more efficient pathway for biobutanol production.
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_103971_5a0d3610f7364abd8436c549df8663ec.pdf
Microwave
Surface tension
1-butanol separation
Evaporation
Economic viability
eng
Alpha Creation Enterprise
Biofuel Research Journal
2292-8782
2020-03-01
7
1
1115
1127
10.18331/BRJ2020.7.1.4
103970
Pretreatment methods for lignocellulosic biofuels production: current advances, challenges and future prospects
Wai Yan Cheah
waiyan@mahsa.edu.my
1
Revathy Sankaran
revathy@um.edu.my
2
Pau Loke Show
pauloke.show@nottingham.edu.my
3
Tg. Nilam Baizura Tg. Ibrahim
tengkunilambaizura@mahsa.edu.my
4
Kit Wayne Chew
kitwayne.chew@nottingham.edu.my
5
Alvin Culaba
alvin.culaba@dlsu.edu.ph
6
Jo-Shu Chang
changjs@mail.ncku.edu.tw
7
Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, MAHSA University, 42610 Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia.
Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500
Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, MAHSA University, 42610 Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia.
School of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Mechanical Engineering Department, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Ave., Manila 0922, Philippines.
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan.
Lignocellulosic biomass has been recognized as promising feedstock for biofuels production. However, the high cost of pretreatment is one of the major challenges hindering large-scale production of biofuels from these abundant, indigenously-available, and economic feedstock. In addition to high capital and operation cost, high water consumption is also regarded as a challenge unfavorably affecting the pretreatment performance. In the present review, advances in lignocellulose pretreatment technologies for biofuels production are reviewed and critically discussed. Moreover, the challenges faced and future research needs are addressed especially in optimization of operating parameters and assessment of total cost of biofuel production from lignocellulose biomass at large scale by using different pretreatment methods. Such information would pave the way for industrial-scale lignocellulosic biofuels production. Overall, it is important to ensure that throughout lignocellulosic bioethanol production processes, favorable features such as maximal energy saving, waste recycling, wastewater recycling, recovery of materials, and biorefinery approach are considered.
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_103970_1824fa057e831b02e7da67b6822f2533.pdf
Lignocellulose
Biomass
Biofuels
Pretreatment
Sustainability
Economic viability
eng
Alpha Creation Enterprise
Biofuel Research Journal
2292-8782
2020-03-01
7
1
1128
1142
10.18331/BRJ2020.7.1.5
103966
Biorefinery perspectives of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) for hydrogen and valuable chemicals production through wastewater treatment
Abudukeremu Kadier
abudoukeremu@163.com
1
Pratiksha Jain
pratiksha891@gmail.com
2
Bin Lai
bin.lai@ufz.de
3
Mohd Sahaid Kalil
sahaid2015ukm@gmail.com
4
Sanath Kondaveeti
sanathkumarkondaveeti@gmail.com
5
Khulood Fahad Saud Alabbosh
6
Ibrahim M Abu-Reesh
7
Gunda Mohanakrishna
gmohanak@yahoo.com
8
Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, National University of Malaysia (UKM), 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
TERI University, 10, Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi – 110070, India.
Department of Solar Materials, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, National University of Malaysia (UKM), 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia (UKM), 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, P O Box. 2713, Doha, Qatar.
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, P O Box. 2713, Doha, Qatar.
The degradation of waste organics through microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) generates hydrogen (H2) gas in an economically efficient way. MEC is known as the advanced concept of the microbial fuel cell (MFC) but requires a minor amount of supplementary electrical energy to produce H2 in the cathode microenvironment. Different bio/processes could be integrated to generate additional energy from the substrate used in MECs, which would make the whole process more sustainable. On the other hand, the energy required to drive the MEC mechanism could be harvested from renewable energy sources. These integrations could advance the efficiency and economic feasibility of the whole process. The present review critically discusses all the integrations investigated to date with MECs such as MFCs, anaerobic digestion, microbial desalination cells, membrane bioreactors, solar energy harvesting systems, etc. Energy generating non-biological and eco-friendly processes (such as dye-sensitized solar cells and thermoelectric microconverters) which could also be integrated with MECs, are also presented and reviewed. Achieving a comprehensive understanding about MEC integration could help with developing advanced biorefineries towards more sustainable energy management. Finally, the challenges related to the scaling up of these processes are also scrutinized with the aim to identify the practical hurdles faced in the MEC processes.
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_103966_a226e79d9f6dcadab86b3e6e67476c63.pdf
Biohydrogen production
Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC)
Wastewater Treatment
Dark fermentation
Substrate degradation