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More Efficient Biodiesel Production. Adam Harvey Process Intensification Group [PIG] School of Chemical Engineering & Advanced Materials Newcastle University. HO. CH 2. +. COOCH 3. CH. HO. Biodiesel (FAME). x 3. HO. CH 2. Glycerol. What is Biodiesel??. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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More Efficient Biodiesel More Efficient Biodiesel ProductionProduction
Adam HarveyAdam HarveyProcess Intensification Group [PIG]Process Intensification Group [PIG]School of Chemical Engineering & Advanced School of Chemical Engineering & Advanced
MaterialsMaterialsNewcastle University Newcastle University
What is Biodiesel??What is Biodiesel??Methyl ester produced by reacting vegetable oils (triglycerides) Methyl ester produced by reacting vegetable oils (triglycerides)
with methanol. This requires a basic catalyst (usually NaOH).with methanol. This requires a basic catalyst (usually NaOH).
+ 3 MeOH
CH2
CH
CH2
COO
COO
COO
Triglyceride (vegetable oil)
+
CH2
CH
CH2
HO
HO
HO
Glycerol
COOCH3
Biodiesel
(FAME)x 3 Lower Viscosity
Cleaner Burning
Catalyst
Why should/will biodiesel be Why should/will biodiesel be used?used?
1.1. RENEWABLERENEWABLE2.2. REDUCED LIFECYCLE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONREDUCED LIFECYCLE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION3.3. REDUCED POLLUTION:REDUCED POLLUTION:
1.1. Particulates!!Particulates!!2.2. Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide3.3. HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons4.4. Sulphur compoundsSulphur compounds
4.4. Immediate effect: distribution network and Immediate effect: distribution network and engines are already in placeengines are already in place
5.5. As a use for waste oilsAs a use for waste oils6.6. Security of supplySecurity of supply7.7. Increased lubricity: increases engine lifetimeIncreased lubricity: increases engine lifetime8.8. Non-toxicNon-toxic9.9. BiodegradableBiodegradable
Project 1: Design of Intensified Project 1: Design of Intensified Biodiesel PlantsBiodiesel Plants
Based on an “intensified” continuous reactor, known as the oscillatory flow reactor [OFR]
Commercial project: development of a portable biodiesel plant: • Use in developing countries where supply of transport
fuels can be unreliable: • Farmers producing their own transport fuel: an example
of “distributed production”
Demonstrator currently being fabricated.
Further development of OFR for biodiesel to start soon.
Intensified, Portable Intensified, Portable Biodiesel PlantBiodiesel Plant
Vegetable Oil
Methanol+ Catalyst
REACTOR SETTLER
GlycerolTank
Flash
DRY POLISH
BIODIESELTANK
Portable Unit
glycerol
Process Intensification:Process Intensification:The Oscillatory Flow ReactorThe Oscillatory Flow Reactor
15 minutes < 2h
Niche Application of the Niche Application of the OFROFR
• • length/diameter ratio much smaller than length/diameter ratio much smaller than equivalent conventional PFRequivalent conventional PFR
• • plug flow RTDplug flow RTD
• • effective two phase mixing of liquidseffective two phase mixing of liquids
Conversion of long residence time Conversion of long residence time batch processes to continuous batch processes to continuous
processesprocesses
Initial Dispersion
Injection point
Net flow
Net Flow InNet FlowOut
Reaction’s Progressalong Reactor
Commercial Demonstration PlantCommercial Demonstration Plant
Project 2: Solid Catalysts for Project 2: Solid Catalysts for BiodieselBiodiesel
1. Reduce capital costs of biodiesel plants 2. Reduced running costs 3. Reduced waste (soap)4. Reduce glycerol purification costs
waste water, soap
Oil
Methanol
Catalyst
glycerol & methanol
Reactor
water washing, dry, polish etc
Flash
biodiesel
Methanol recycle
Neutralisation
salt glycerolCurrent Process
Oil
MethanolFlash
biodiesel
Methanol recycle
glycerol
Separation of catalyst from product via simple - filter
Reactor
Biodiesel Process using Solid Catalyst
Solid Catalysts Solid Catalysts (requirements)(requirements)
Robust (long lifetime) Active (2h reaction time or less) Inexpensive Available in bulk quantities Easy to manufacture Stable
Solid CatalystsSolid Catalysts Alkaline earth metal oxide substrates, doped with
alkali metals, e.g.:– LiCaO– LiMgO– KCaO– KMgO
Problem 1i. Solubility of substrateii. Leaching of catalyst
Project 3: Biodiesel Directly from Project 3: Biodiesel Directly from Seed: Seed:
“Combined Extraction and “Combined Extraction and Reaction”Reaction”
• Would facilitate distributed production• Successful demonstration for rapeseed
solvent extraction
+ reaction
Alcohols + Catalyst
BiodieselGlycerol
Meal
Oilseeds
Conventional Biodiesel Conventional Biodiesel ProductionProduction
1. Farm
2. Oil Extraction
3. Conversion to Biodiesel
Oilseed Growing
Crushing
Oilseeds
Solvent Extraction
Vegetable Oil
Hexane
Meal Meal
ReactorMethanol+ Catalyst
DownstreamProcessing
Glycerol
BiodieselBiodiesel
Distributed Biodiesel Distributed Biodiesel ProductionProduction
1. Farm Oilseed Growing
ReactorMethanol+ Catalyst
DownstreamProcessing Glycerol
BiodieselBiodiesel
Oilseed Cracking
Meal
Reactive ExtractionReactive Extraction
Successfully produced biodiesel Successfully produced biodiesel directly from rapeseeds and jatropha directly from rapeseeds and jatropha nutsnuts
Now optimising the processNow optimising the process Downstream separation studies have Downstream separation studies have
begunbegun
Other Biodiesel ProjectsOther Biodiesel Projects
1.1. Biodiesel from Algae: design of Biodiesel from Algae: design of photobioreactors and whole process photobioreactors and whole process
2.2. Triglyceride cracking to produce Triglyceride cracking to produce biodieselbiodiesel
3.3. Biodiesel from jatropha (reactive Biodiesel from jatropha (reactive extraction using solid catalysts)extraction using solid catalysts)
4.4. Study of cold flow propertiesStudy of cold flow properties
AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments
Dr Jonathan Lee, CEAM, NewcastleDr Jonathan Lee, CEAM, Newcastle PhD StudentsPhD Students Research exchange studentsResearch exchange students Masters research studentsMasters research students
What about the Glycerol?What about the Glycerol?~15% (volume) of the total output
of a biodiesel reaction is (impure) glycerol.
What should be done with it?
• Cosmetics industry?• Energy?• “Renewable chemicals”:
Propylene glycol, methanol, lactic acid, propane-1,3-diol, epichlorohydrin etc
“Glycerochemistry”
1.1.FlowFlow2.2.Burning characteristics:Burning characteristics:
1.1.Trumpet FormationTrumpet Formation2.2.Lacquer FormationLacquer Formation
3.3.Pollution: acrolein formation (a.k.a. 2-Pollution: acrolein formation (a.k.a. 2-propenal)propenal)
“Acrolein is such a severe pulmonary irritant and lacrimating agent that it has been used as a chemical weapon during
World War I.” & “suspected human carcinogen.”
Why not burn the fats/oils directlyWhy not burn the fats/oils directly??