• Energy Research

Abstract Global energy crisis are as a result of gradual depletion of fossil fuel reserves, coupled with population growth in developing countries. Besides, fossil fuels are not environmentally benign as they are associated with problems, i.e. global warming, high toxicity and non biodegradability, hence it is considered as non sustainable source of energy. Without doubt, biofuel-based energy is a promising long-term energy source that can reduce the over dependence on fossil fuels as a result of feedstocks availability and renewability. However, biodiesel production from vegetable oil using the traditional homogeneous catalytic system is no longer defensible by industries in the near future, particularly due to food-fuel rivalry and ecological problems related to the conventional homogeneous catalytic system. This review presents a comprehensive step by step process of converting waste cooking oil (WCO) to biodiesel, using modified waste egg shell catalyst. The modified waste egg shell derived bi-functional catalyst could easily be removed from the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) with limited environmental effects. The new modified catalytic system is able to convert the high free fatty acid (FFA) content waste cooking oil to FAME efficiently under moderate reaction conditions. Utilization of waste cooking oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production will reduce the food security issues that stem the biodiesel production from food-grade oil. Moreover, it will reduce the total production cost of the FAME due to its low cost. The major objective of this article is to demonstrate the current state of the use of heterogeneous bifunctional acid/base catalyst to produce biodiesel from green and non-edible waste cooking oil. At the end of the article, perspectives and future developments are also presented.

Abstract Global energy crisis are as a result of gradual depletion of fossil fuel reserves, coupled with population growth in developing countries. Besides, fossil fuels are not environmentally benign as they are associated with problems, i.e. global warming, high toxicity and non biodegradability, hence it is considered as non sustainable source of energy. Without doubt, biofuel-based energy is a promising long-term energy source that can reduce the over dependence on fossil fuels as a result of feedstocks availability and renewability. However, biodiesel production from vegetable oil using the traditional homogeneous catalytic system is no longer defensible by industries in the near future, particularly due to food-fuel rivalry and ecological problems related to the conventional homogeneous catalytic system. This review presents a comprehensive step by step process of converting waste cooking oil (WCO) to biodiesel, using modified waste egg shell catalyst. The modified waste egg shell derived bi-functional catalyst could easily be removed from the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) with limited environmental effects. The new modified catalytic system is able to convert the high free fatty acid (FFA) content waste cooking oil to FAME efficiently under moderate reaction conditions. Utilization of waste cooking oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production will reduce the food security issues that stem the biodiesel production from food-grade oil. Moreover, it will reduce the total production cost of the FAME due to its low cost. The major objective of this article is to demonstrate the current state of the use of heterogeneous bifunctional acid/base catalyst to produce biodiesel from green and non-edible waste cooking oil. At the end of the article, perspectives and future developments are also presented.

Diesel-like hydrocarbons were produced by the catalytic deoxygenation (DO) of Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) over novel Agx/AC and Niy-Agx/AC catalysts under an H2-free atmosphere. The AC was synthesized from coconut fibre residues (CFR), where CFR is the by-product from coconut milk extraction and is particularly rich in soft fibres with high mineral content. The Niy-Agx/AC catalyst afforded higher DO activity via the decarboxylation/decarbonylation (deCOx) route than Agx/AC due to the properties of Ni, synergistic interaction of Ni and Ag species, adequate amount of strong acid sites and large number of weak acid sites, which cause extensive C-O cleavage and lead to rich formation of n-(C15+C17) hydrocarbons. The effect of Ag and Ni content were studied within the 5 to 15 wt% range. An optimum Ni and Ag metal content (5 wt%) for deCOx reaction was observed. Excess Ni is not preferable due to a tendency for cracking and Ag-rich containing catalyst weakly enforced triglycerides breaking. The Ni5-Ag5/AC govern exclusively decarbonylation reaction, which corroborates the presence of Ni²⁺ species and a high amount of strong acid sites. Ultimately, Ni5-Ag5/AC in the present study shows excellent chemical stability with consistent five reusability without drastic reduction of hydrocarbon yield (78–95%) and n-(C15+C17) selectivity (82–83%), which indicate favourable application in JCO DO.

Diesel-like hydrocarbons were produced by the catalytic deoxygenation (DO) of Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) over novel Agx/AC and Niy-Agx/AC catalysts under an H2-free atmosphere. The AC was synthesized from coconut fibre residues (CFR), where CFR is the by-product from coconut milk extraction and is particularly rich in soft fibres with high mineral content. The Niy-Agx/AC catalyst afforded higher DO activity via the decarboxylation/decarbonylation (deCOx) route than Agx/AC due to the properties of Ni, synergistic interaction of Ni and Ag species, adequate amount of strong acid sites and large number of weak acid sites, which cause extensive C-O cleavage and lead to rich formation of n-(C15+C17) hydrocarbons. The effect of Ag and Ni content were studied within the 5 to 15 wt% range. An optimum Ni and Ag metal content (5 wt%) for deCOx reaction was observed. Excess Ni is not preferable due to a tendency for cracking and Ag-rich containing catalyst weakly enforced triglycerides breaking. The Ni5-Ag5/AC govern exclusively decarbonylation reaction, which corroborates the presence of Ni²⁺ species and a high amount of strong acid sites. Ultimately, Ni5-Ag5/AC in the present study shows excellent chemical stability with consistent five reusability without drastic reduction of hydrocarbon yield (78–95%) and n-(C15+C17) selectivity (82–83%), which indicate favourable application in JCO DO.

Abstract Biodiesel, as an alternative fuel for petroleum-derived fuel, has gained significant attention from society. In this research work, biodiesel is produced via simultaneous esterification and transesterification of chicken fat and skin oil (CFSO) over Ce supported sulfated activated carbon derived from coconut shell (ACcs-S). Details of a study on the effect of Ce concentrations in the range of 5–15 wt% were also investigated. The results showed that 5 wt% Ce was an optimum concentration for the esterification and transesterification of CFSO with approximately 93% free fatty acid (FFA) conversion. High FFA conversion by 5Ce/ACcs-S is attributed to it having a sufficient amount of acid-base and noticeable pore structures. The effect of four variables (i.e., methanol to chicken fat oil, catalyst loading, reaction time, and temperature) on the FFA conversion was studied via the one-variable–at-a-time method. Optimum FFA conversion (93%) was achieved at a temperature of 90 °C, 12:1 MeOH to oil ratio, 3 wt % catalyst loading, and 1 h reaction time. 5Ce/ACcs-S shows high chemical stability by maintaining the FFA conversion at up to 90% within five consecutive reaction cycles.

Abstract Biodiesel, as an alternative fuel for petroleum-derived fuel, has gained significant attention from society. In this research work, biodiesel is produced via simultaneous esterification and transesterification of chicken fat and skin oil (CFSO) over Ce supported sulfated activated carbon derived from coconut shell (ACcs-S). Details of a study on the effect of Ce concentrations in the range of 5–15 wt% were also investigated. The results showed that 5 wt% Ce was an optimum concentration for the esterification and transesterification of CFSO with approximately 93% free fatty acid (FFA) conversion. High FFA conversion by 5Ce/ACcs-S is attributed to it having a sufficient amount of acid-base and noticeable pore structures. The effect of four variables (i.e., methanol to chicken fat oil, catalyst loading, reaction time, and temperature) on the FFA conversion was studied via the one-variable–at-a-time method. Optimum FFA conversion (93%) was achieved at a temperature of 90 °C, 12:1 MeOH to oil ratio, 3 wt % catalyst loading, and 1 h reaction time. 5Ce/ACcs-S shows high chemical stability by maintaining the FFA conversion at up to 90% within five consecutive reaction cycles.

The global demand for energy is expected to rise up to 59% by the year 2035. This is due to the increasing technology developments and contemporary industrialization. Continues trends of these simultaneously will affects the crude fossil oil reserves progressively. Therefore, biofuels that are predominantly produced from the biomass based feedstocks such as plant, algae material and animal waste. Liquid or gaseous biofuels are the most simple to ship, deliver, and burn since they are easier to transport, deliver, and burn cleanly. The key contributor to the elevated green house gaseous concentration is carbon dioxide (CO2). Two-thirds of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions are due to fossil fuel combustion, with the remaining third attributed to land-use changes. Interestingly, recent literature has announced that the utilization of liquid biofuels capable of reducing the CO and CO2 emissions. Other positive impacts of the liquid biofuels are; (1) reduce the external energy dependence, (2) promote the regional engineering, (3) increase the Research & Development activities, (4) reduce the environmental effects of electricity generation and transformation, (5) improve the quality of services for rural residents and (6) provide job opportunities.

The global demand for energy is expected to rise up to 59% by the year 2035. This is due to the increasing technology developments and contemporary industrialization. Continues trends of these simultaneously will affects the crude fossil oil reserves progressively. Therefore, biofuels that are predominantly produced from the biomass based feedstocks such as plant, algae material and animal waste. Liquid or gaseous biofuels are the most simple to ship, deliver, and burn since they are easier to transport, deliver, and burn cleanly. The key contributor to the elevated green house gaseous concentration is carbon dioxide (CO2). Two-thirds of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions are due to fossil fuel combustion, with the remaining third attributed to land-use changes. Interestingly, recent literature has announced that the utilization of liquid biofuels capable of reducing the CO and CO2 emissions. Other positive impacts of the liquid biofuels are; (1) reduce the external energy dependence, (2) promote the regional engineering, (3) increase the Research & Development activities, (4) reduce the environmental effects of electricity generation and transformation, (5) improve the quality of services for rural residents and (6) provide job opportunities.