Operating parameters for bio-oil production in biomass pyrolysis: A review

The authors acknowledges the financial support by Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation Malaysia (MOSTI), Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE), and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu for the conduct of the research under the E-Science fund (UMT/RMC/SF/13/52072(5), Vot no.: 52072), the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (Project no.: FRGS/1/2013/TK05/UMT/02/2, Vot no.: 59296), and the Research Acculturation Grant Scheme (Project no.: RAGS/2012/UMT/TK07/3, Vot no.: 57085).

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Progress in waste oil to sustainable energy, with emphasis on pyrolysis techniques

Non-edible feedstocks such as animal fat wastes (AFWs) have recently increased in popularity as alternatives to vegetable oils in the production of biodiesel. They are low cost, mitigate environmental damage and increase the quality of the resultant biodiesel fuel (low NOx emissions, high Cetane number and oxidative stability). Therefore, AFWs are an excellent feedstock for biodiesel production. Here we provide a comprehensive review trends and techniques in biodiesel production from AFWs. A critical overview of homogeneous and heterogeneous (one- or two-step) catalytic transesterification of AFWs is presented. Similarly, enzyme-catalyzed transesterification and the application of supercritical fluids conversion techniques in the production of biodiesel from AFWs are thoroughly assessed. Finally, cutting edge advances in assisted transesterification processes for biodiesel production are critically reviewed.

Recent trends of biodiesel production from animal fat wastes and associated production techniques

Waste generated from anthropogenic activities contributes toward stresses on our natural systems through impacts associated with both production and disposal. Sustainable waste management necessitates that industries shift from the current linear model to a circular based economy, utilizing wastes as raw materials for the production of new products, eg. fuels and chemicals. Biomass and associated waste materials can be converted into value-added products using thermochemical processes. The pyrolysis process is a convenient thermochemical method, whereby biomass is efficiently converted into biofuels, biochars and BBQ briquettes; and further processing yields additional value added products, such as activated carbons, carbon black and printing ink. This paper reviews current development work and evaluates potential opportunities for food waste pyrolysis focusing on the conversion of food waste to biochar products. Overall, it was found that the constituents of the food waste together with the process conditions play a major role in the yield and composition of the produced chars. Moreover, more research work needs to be conducted on food waste to biochar and on mixed food blends in particular.

Food waste to biochars through pyrolysis: A review

This paper discusses about the importance of animal fats for power generation particularly from waste chicken fat, advantages of using chicken fat for biodiesel production, different ways of oil extraction from chicken fat and various biodiesel production techniques. A detailed review has been done on the use of novel heterogeneous catalysts for transesterification process such as metal based catalysts and organic catalysts. The factors influencing transesterification parameters like molar ratio, catalyst weight percentage, reaction time and temperature has been collected from several research articles were presented in detail. In addition, the transesterification reaction is studied at different co solvents employed to increase the methyl ester conversion. Also, analyses of relative optimization techniques implementing for transesterification process parameters have been discussed thoroughly. The physico-chemical properties of chicken fat methyl ester such as kinematic viscosity, density, pour, cloud, flash and cold filter plugging point, calorific value and fatty acid compositions of chicken fat methyl ester were compared with different animal fat methyl esters. The study reveals that biodiesel produced from waste chicken fat would be a suitable replacement of edible vegetable oils due to its low cost, ease of availability and the properties of chicken fat methyl ester were within the limits of ASTM D 6751 biodiesel standards. Furthermore, the research work has to be carried out for the improvement of cycles of catalyst reusability, biodiesel purity and cost-effectiveness of biodiesel production process in future.

A. Ben Hassen-Trabelsi

Papers

Pyrolysis of waste animal fats in a fixed-bed reactor: Production and characterization of bio-oil and bio-char