Heterogeneous Heterogeneous Catalysts for Biodiesel Catalysts for Biodiesel

ProductionProductionChemistry & IfM Louisiana Tech Chemistry & IfM Louisiana Tech

UniversityUniversity Presenter: Presenter: Upali Siriwardane Upali Siriwardane Date: November 5, 2009Date: November 5, 2009

Summary StatementSummary Statement Bottom line: Bottom line: Renewable energy Renewable energy

source source and cost effective alternatives and cost effective alternatives to to replace petro-dieselreplace petro-diesel..

Develop Develop heterogeneous to replace heterogeneous to replace homogenous catalystshomogenous catalysts to to minimize minimize waste water waste water and produce value added and produce value added pure glycerolpure glycerol. .

Develop a Develop a bench scale biodiesel bench scale biodiesel reactor reactor incorporating characteristics incorporating characteristics of heterogeneous catalysts of heterogeneous catalysts

Research Context and Research Context and Prior WorkPrior Work

Preparation ,characterization and Preparation ,characterization and optimization of catalystsoptimization of catalysts

Fisher-Tropsch (FT): Fisher-Tropsch (FT): Hydrocarbons from Hydrocarbons from syngas.syngas.2000-2004:2000-2004:"Novel Preparations and Magneto Chemical Characterization of "Novel Preparations and Magneto Chemical Characterization of Nanoparticle Mixed Alcohol Catalysts" Department of Energy, National Nanoparticle Mixed Alcohol Catalysts" Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory.Energy Technology Laboratory.

Water-gas-shift (WGS)Water-gas-shift (WGS): : Hydrogen from water Hydrogen from water and COand CO2006-2009:2006-2009: “Development of Low Cost Membranes (Ta, Nb, and Cellulose “Development of Low Cost Membranes (Ta, Nb, and Cellulose Acetate) for HAcetate) for H22/CO/CO22/CO Separation in WGS Reactors,” Department of Energy, /CO Separation in WGS Reactors,” Department of Energy, National Energy Technology.National Energy Technology.

Questions to be Questions to be AddressedAddressedHeterogeneous biodiesel catalystsHeterogeneous biodiesel catalysts

Type of active catalysts: Type of active catalysts: acid/base etc.acid/base etc. Type of catalyst support system: Type of catalyst support system: alumina etc.alumina etc. Type of synthetic procedure: Type of synthetic procedure: impregnation impregnation

etc.etc. Techniques for determining efficiency of Techniques for determining efficiency of

conversion: conversion: GC, HPLC etc.GC, HPLC etc. Life-time of the heterogenous catalyst: Life-time of the heterogenous catalyst:

Turnover FrequencyTurnover Frequency Regenerating procedure for catalystsRegenerating procedure for catalysts Effect source of oils on catalytic activity: Effect source of oils on catalytic activity:

Vegetable/FishVegetable/Fish

Accomplishments to DateAccomplishments to Date Complete literature survey on biodiesel production.Complete literature survey on biodiesel production. Identification of active catalysts: Identification of active catalysts: Metal Oxides Metal Oxides Synthetic procedure to trap active catalyst on support Synthetic procedure to trap active catalyst on support

systems: systems: sol-gel/hydrothermal methods.sol-gel/hydrothermal methods. Techniques for determining efficiency of biodiesel Techniques for determining efficiency of biodiesel

conversion: conversion: GC analysis (FAME).GC analysis (FAME). Catalysts characterization techniques: Catalysts characterization techniques: DTA/TGA, BET DTA/TGA, BET

surface area, PXRD, SEM, AFM and TEM.surface area, PXRD, SEM, AFM and TEM.

Plans for 2009-10Plans for 2009-10 Preparation of nanoparticle metal oxide: Preparation of nanoparticle metal oxide:

MMxxOOyy incorporated on supports ( Al incorporated on supports ( Al22OO33, , AlAl22OO33/SiO/SiO22 and DLH (double-layered- and DLH (double-layered-hydroxides) Mg/Al, Zn/Al.hydroxides) Mg/Al, Zn/Al.

Selection and optimization of Selection and optimization of heterogeneous catalysts system: heterogeneous catalysts system: GC GC analysis (FAME).analysis (FAME).

Development of Stainless steel bench scale Development of Stainless steel bench scale heterogeneous biodiesel reactor system: heterogeneous biodiesel reactor system: Incorporation of selected catalystIncorporation of selected catalyst

Value PropositionValue Proposition Heterogeneous biodiesel production Heterogeneous biodiesel production

systems are still under investigation: systems are still under investigation: there there is no standard technology. Heterogeneous is no standard technology. Heterogeneous system will replace the homogenous system will replace the homogenous systems.systems.

Heterogeneous system is less polluting Heterogeneous system is less polluting and yield less contaminated biodiesel and and yield less contaminated biodiesel and glycerol: glycerol: more economical since extra more economical since extra steps to clean biodiesel is not necessary.steps to clean biodiesel is not necessary.

Heterogeneous system could be adopted to Heterogeneous system could be adopted to various types of oils: various types of oils: veg-oil/ fish-oil/ veg-oil/ fish-oil/ animal-fat and spent cooking oilanimal-fat and spent cooking oil

AcknowledgementAcknowledgementss

Collaborators:Collaborators:Prof. Naidu SeetalaProf. Naidu Seetala, Grambling State , Grambling State UniversityUniversityProf. Sadun FernandoProf. Sadun Fernando, Texas A & M , Texas A & M UniversityUniversityProf. Tabbetha DobbinsProf. Tabbetha Dobbins, Louisiana Tech , Louisiana Tech UniversityUniversity

Students:Students:Robert ForesterRobert ForesterRakesh A. TalathiRakesh A. TalathiTushar KudleTushar KudleSteven BrownSteven Brown